History of UKAS
Prior to 1968 firms requiring traceability in the calibration of standards had to send them to the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) or rely on the "in house" certificate of the manufacturer of the gauges. With a growing need for calibration, and with NPL wanting to concentrate on the highest level of measurement it was decided to issue certificates to laboratories showing them to be authorised to calibrate gauges and measuring instruments and issue an official British Calibration Service (BCS) certificate. Initial vetting was by staff of the Ministry of Technology. The organisation known as the BCS was incorporated with the National Accreditation Test House and Laboratories (NATLAS) in 1985 into what was now known as the National Measurement Accreditation Service (NAMAS). UKAS was formed in 1995 when the NAMAS (National Measurement Accreditation Service) and the NACCB (National Accreditation Council of Certification Bodies) were merged from the DTI and the British Standards Institution (BSI) respectively.
International Recognition
UKAS is the United Kingdom member of European Co-operation on Accreditation (EA), the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF). If a certificate is issued under a laboratory's scope of accreditation then the certificate should be recognised in all other countries whose national accreditation bodies are signatory to the EA & ILAC multilateral agreement ILAC is the international co-operation between the various laboratory accreditation schemes operated throughout the world. ILAC was formalised as a co-operation in 1996 when 44 national bodies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This MOU provided the basis for the further development of the Co-operation and the establishment of the multilateral recognition arrangement (MRA) that was signed by 36 member accreditation bodies in 2000 (There are now 46 full members). This Arrangement facilitates the international acceptance of test data, and the elimination of technical barriers to trade. Accreditation is a demonstration of an organisation’s competence,
impartiality and performance capability. UKAS assesses organisations and recommends to government their appointment as Notified Bodies as required by EU Directives and Regulations. These accreditations are made against internationally recognised standards. UKAS is the sole accreditation body recognised by HM Government. Only UKAS accredited organisations are entitled to use Accreditation Marks, which feature the Royal Crown to signify government recognition.
