Greece reconstitutes national accreditation agency

The new law establishes the sustainability and international acknowledgement of Hellenic Accreditation System according to community law, protecting the accreditation services sector in the country and safeguards Greek exports. The new law was voted by a widespread majority of parliament deputies.

"With this legislation we upgrade a critical organization which ensures the smooth operation of the economy, health and safety of citizens. We establish the independence of Hellenic Accreditation System according to European standards and deal with problems created by the irresponsible policies and mismanagement of our predecessors," Economy Alternate Minister Al. Charitsis said.

An Economy ministry announcement said the legislation resolved problems created by a hasty and ill-planned merger in 2013 between Hellenic Accreditation System, with the Hellenic Organization for Standardization and Hellenic Institute of Metrology. The Hellenic Accreditation System (ESYD) was established by the Law 3066/2002 with the purpose of the materialization, implementation and administration of the National Accreditation System as set in the provisions of the Law 2231/1994 as it was modified with the Law 2642/1999, was transformed andincorporated as an autonomous Operational Accreditation Unit at the National Quality Infrastructure System(ESYP) established by the Law 4109/2013.

The Hellenic Accreditation System (ESYD) has been appointed as the National Accreditation Body of Greece according to the requirements of Article 4 of the Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 according to which each Member State shall appoint a single national accreditation body. ESYD employs external assessors and experts. The assessors are selected and trained according to strictly defined criteria and procedures and they must comply with specific regulations concerning their independence, integrity and confidentiality.