S.L. 419.5 ст. 3Establishment of the Accreditation Directorate.

There shall be established, within the Authority and as provided for in section 3(14) of the Act, an Accreditation

Directorate, with the following principal functions and responsibilities:

(a) to provide for assessment visits of testing and calibration laboratories, as required by the applicable accreditation normative documents;

(b) to provide for assessment visits of medical and clinical laboratories, as required by the applicable accreditation normative documents;

(c) to provide for assessment visits of inspection bodies as required by the applicable accreditation normative documents;

(d) to provide for assessment visits of certification bodies providing certification of products, services, management systems and personnel as required by the applicable accreditation normative documents;

(e) to provide for assessment and supervision visits of EMAS Verifiers as required by the applicable accreditation normative documents;

(f) to perform other assessments and approvals of competence of Conformity Assessment Bodies carrying out conformity assessment activities, including fulfilment of the requirements for conformity assessment bodies pursuant to particular regulations for conformity assessment;

(g) to provide for periodic surveillance visits for the assessment and reassessment of the technical and organisational requisites of the accredited bodies, as required by the applicable normative documents;

(h) to suspend accreditation and to inform the Board of any such suspension;

(i) to receive and administer appeals to decisions of the Board;

(j) to make publicly available information about the current status of the accreditations that has been granted by the Board to Conformity Assessment Bodies. The information shall include the name and address of each accredited Conformity Assessment Body and the scopes of accreditation, either condensed or in full;

(k) to prepare an annual business plan and to monitor and manage its implementation;

(l) to consult with the Board on the development of the policies related to accreditation, as necessary, and to implement such policies;

(m) to establish and disband as and when required technical committees in agreement with the Board;

(n) to participate in the work of international bodies operating in the field of accreditation;

(o) to collaborate with the relevant national and international entities in order to develop and promote appropriate conformity assessment procedures;

(p) to promote studies, meetings and actions in its area of competence in co-operation with national and international associations;

(q) to provide advice to the Government and other public entities in matters concerning accreditation and other assessments and in the approval or otherwise as to the competence of bodies carrying out conformity assessment activities;

(r) to represent Malta in relevant national and international activities;

(s) to collaborate with organisations of accreditation bodies, and to represent in them the Maltese interests as and when requested;

(t) to publish accreditation guidelines;

(u) to publish accreditation regulations, policies and other normative documents as necessary;

(v) to keep a register of accredited bodies; and

(w) to carry out such other functions as are ancillary or complimentary to the above functions.