05 March 2021

Joint IAF/ILAC Statement on: Replacement of assessments during the COVID-19 pandemic

During the current COVID-19 pandemic, where a mandatory scheduled on-site/remote assessment cannot be performed, by the AB or, whenever relevant, by a sub-contracted AB which is an IAF MLA/ILAC MRA signatory, that assessment may be replaced, in extraordinary circumstances, by an off-site review of documentation.
The review of documentation should only be considered if the justifications for not being able to conduct the on-site or remote assessment are traced back to the exceptional situation due to COVID19 (e.g.: travel restrictions, social distancing, workplace health and safety decisions including health risk categories for both assessors and CAB personnel).
The impact of the replacement on the accreditation program for the current accreditation cycle needs
to be considered.
If either a remote assessment or an on-site assessment has not been conducted within 12 months from the review of documentation, for reasons not attributable to the AB, the AB shall normally initiate the process for suspension or withdrawal of the accreditation of the CAB.
For an initial assessment, review of documentation only, is not sufficient.

05 November 2020

IAF GA Resolution 2020-16 – (Agenda Item 9.1) IAF COVID-19 FAQs :

The General Assembly, acting on the recommendation of the Executive Committee, endorses the IAF COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) as developed and published by the IAF COVID-19 FAQ Task Force.

The General Assembly further endorses the IAF COVID-19 FAQ Task Force to continue its work on a temporary basis dependent on the evolution of the current COVID-19 pandemic.

The General Assembly acknowledges and accepts that standards and other normative documents do not cover specific requirements for all situations that can occur. In this case, IAF COVID-19 FAQs have regulated the unanticipated situation of the pandemic.

For this reason, when an accreditation body or a conformity assessment body refers to an IAF COVID-19 FAQ, published by IAF, it is assumed to be operating not in contradiction or excluding any of the requirements included in the relevant international standards and/or other normative documents (see ISO/IEC 17011, § 4.6.2). Such assumption is on a temporary basis dependent on the evolution of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Conformity Assessment Bodies and Accreditation Bodies can implement the dispositions contained in IAF COVID-19 FAQs, but where the situation permits, priority should be given to the ordinary situation.