ENAC accreditation is being increasingly used by many public administrations as a tool to guarantee the security and integrity of evaluation activities intervening in key sectors for public policies (healthcare, environmental protection, critical infrastructures, food safety or cybersecurity, among others). Accredited bodies provide the public sector with a set of means that can be used to implement their policies and achieve their objectives.
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Cost reduction

Accreditation provides a surveillance and control system without impacting the taxpayer, allowing central, regional or local governments to focus their resources on the aspects to be regulated. Thus, the technical weight of supervision is held by a specialised organisation, ENAC, without diminishing governmental powers, as the accreditation system allows a continuous coordination with the authorities.
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Agility

Accreditation enables the use of new, more agile and flexible regulation techniques, favouring self-regulation while ensuring the reliability of activities and helping increase public confidence. 
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Harmonisation

As accreditation is a regulated activity in Europe, it can be used in different countries with a full guarantee of compatibility and harmonisation.

Currently, both in Spain and in Europe, accreditation is widely used by legislators. In fact, more than 170 Spanish and regional regulations, as well as over 100 at a European level, incorporate accreditation as a tool to deliver confidence in products and services, develop safe markets and strengthen consumer protection.

Thus, the European Commission recognises accreditation as the preferred means to demonstrate technical competence for the proper functioning of the common market in the Member States, through Regulation (EC) No. 765/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council:

Where Community harmonisation legislation provides for the selection of conformity assessment bodies for its implementation, transparent accreditation, as provided for in this Regulation, ensuring the necessary level of confidence in conformity certificates.

 

European Commission in Regulation (EC) No. 765/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council, whereas 12.

Ongoing collaboration with Public Administration

ENAC is the only national accreditation body in Spain, as it is designated by the Spanish Government through Royal Decree 1715/2010. It incorporates all the interested stakeholders, guaranteeing the public authorities’ participation both in ENAC’s governing bodies and in its technical developments. 

Accreditation examples

Some sectors where accreditation is applied:
Agri-food
Healthcare
Environment
Automotive
Telecommunications
Urban planning control
Industry
Check more examples (Spanish)
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How to incorporate accreditation in public policies?

ENAC offers its technical expertise to help in both the development and establishment of public policies that may require independent evaluations. Thus, the competent authorities would be able to define the needs and design a scheme with the necessary requirements to reach their public objectives.

Further information

Related links

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