Quality Infrastructure
Accreditation, a pillar of IQ
The Quality Infrastructure (QI) protects consumers, the environment and the market. Accreditation is one of its pillars, together with standardization, metrology and conformity assessment.
The Quality Infrastructure (QI) is the “quality and conformity” system that advanced industrial societies have developed to ensure the proper functioning of markets, protect consumer health and safety, and protect the environment. The Quality Infrastructure has a national (NQI), European (EQIN) and international (InQI) dimension.
The QI is based on four pillars: standardization, metrology, accreditation and conformity assessment. In addition, there is market surveillance, carried out by Public Authorities to ensure that operators comply with legal requirements. Thanks to the tools and services provided by the various components of the Quality Infrastructure, surveillance can focus on the strategic activity of supervising the system and contrasting illegal activities and irregularities.
Pillars of the Quality Infrastructure
Technical standardization
This involves standardization through the adoption of common measurement or reference systems, defined with the involvement of all parties, in the interest of the community.
Metrology
This is the science of correct and reliable measurement, commonly divided into the fields of scientific, industrial and legal metrology.
Accreditation
This is the attestation, by an impartial Accreditation Body, of the competence, independence and impartiality of a certification, inspection and verification body, or a testing and calibration laboratory that carries out conformity assessment activities.
Conformity assessment
This consists of verifying the requirements defined in the relevant legislation with regard to products, processes, management systems and persons. This definition includes, among other things, certification, inspection and verification activities, testing and calibration.
Value of the Quality Infrastructure
The QI protects consumer health and the environment, promotes economic development and is a fundamental value for the growth of society.
The Quality Infrastructure (QI) is essential to ensure integration into markets, fostering confidence in the quality and safety of goods and services. It facilitates international trade and promotes transparency and the protection of consumer rights.
The synergy between standardization, metrology, accreditation and conformity assessment creates a synergistic structure aimed at ensuring the high standards of quality and safety required by Institutions, businesses and citizens. Finally, the QI stimulates competitiveness among businesses, contributing to an environment conducive to economic development.
Quality Infrastructure in Italy
In Italy, the Quality Infrastructure ensures high standards and compliance with regulations through the coordination of national Institutions and trade associations.
The value and benefits of the national Quality Infrastructure (QI) for the Italian market and society derive from the coordinated collaboration of the responsible organizations that make up the Quality Infrastructure system in Italy.
The IQ organizations consider collaboration with Institutions to be essential in order to develop synergies and contribute to the public interest together with the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy, all Ministries and other Public Authorities directly involved, which have a guiding and supporting role.
The functions of metrology – scientific, industrial and legal – are carried out by the national metrology system:
- INRiM – National Metrology Research Institute
- INMRI-ENEA – National Institute of Ionizing Radiation Metrology
- Unioncamere – Chambers of Commerce System
Standardization activities are carried out by national Bodies:
- UNI – Italian Standardization Body
- CEI – Italian Electrotechnical Committee
The accreditation of bodies and laboratories is carried out by Accredia, the Italian Accreditation Body
Conformity assessment is carried out by numerous bodies and laboratories that are affiliated with the main associations members of Accredia:
- AIOICI – Italian Association of Independent Certification and Inspection Bodies
- AIZS – Association of Experimental Zooprophylactic Institutes
- ALA – Association of Accredited Laboratories
- ALPI – Association of Testing Laboratories and Certification and Inspection Bodies
- ASCOTECO – Association for Technical Control of Construction
- CISQ – Italian Federation for the Certification of Company Quality Systems
- CONFORMA – Association of Certification, Inspection, Testing and Calibration Bodies
- UNOA – National Union of Accredited Bodies
- UN.I.O.N. – Italian Union of Notified and Authorized Bodies
The commitment of the Quality Infrastructure
The organizations undertake to:
- Operate in synergy following common and shared principles and criteria.
- Communicate clearly and transparently the characteristics and functions of the system and its components, promoting awareness and value.
- Involve all interested parties in defining the “rules” and choosing the methods for conformity assessing, through an inclusive and transparent process.
- Provide high-quality services that are accessible to businesses, citizens and Public Authorities.
- Effectively support the country’s economy in the European and international context.
- Respond to the needs and challenges posed by society transformation, technological innovation and environmental protection in order to guide the evolution of the Quality Infrastructure.