Overview

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) is an autonomous body under the aegis of Department of Science & Technology, Government of India. NABL has been established with the objective to provide Government, Regulators and Industry with a scheme of laboratory accreditation through third-party assessment for formally recognizing the technical competence of laboratories. The accreditation services are provided for testing, calibration and medical laboratories in accordance with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Standards.

Accreditation assists the Indian industries to enhance the quality and reliability of Indian goods in the domestic market and exports, thereby, catalyses the growth of Indian economy. WTO has identified non-acceptance of test results and measurement data as Technical Barrier to Trade (TBT) and accreditation is considered to be the first essential step towards removing such technical barriers. NABL went a step further in removing technical barriers to trade and achieved the status of signatory to Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC) Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) and International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) Arrangement based on a peer evaluation by APLAC in 2000. This was a major step towards mutual acceptance of test results and measurement data across Indian borders. NABL went through the peer APLAC evaluation in 2004 & 2008 and reaffirmed its APLAC / ILAC signatory status with extension of scope for Medical Testing as per the new standard ISO 15189. Today, the test results and measurement data produced by Indian accredited laboratories are acceptable amongst 64 economies. NABL accredited laboratories have therefore emerged members of global family of more than 40,000 accredited laboratories.

NABL provides accreditation in all major fields of Science and Engineering such as Biological, Chemical, Electrical, Electronics, Mechanical, Fluid-Flow, Non-Destructive, Photometry, Radiological, Thermal & Forensics under testing facilities and Electro-Technical, Mechanical, Fluid Flow, Thermal, Optical & Radiological under Calibration facilities. NABL also offers accreditation for medical testing laboratories.

The major sectors in which NABL has granted accreditation are Textiles, Automobiles, Power, Telecom, Petroleum, Food, Health and Environment. As on date, more than 1600 laboratories have NABL accreditation, out of which 20% are Government laboratories.

Benefits

• Assurance to clients of Good Laboratory Practice
• Saves resources by getting results right first time.
• Public and industry acceptance
• Decision makers can rely on test / calibration results
• Ensure better support in the eventuality of legal consequence
• Provides formal recognition to competent laboratories and ensures that they perform their work in accordance with international standard
• Minimizes the risk of unreliable results.
• Minimizes the chances of retesting and hence reduces chances of additional financial burden and time delays.
• Enhances Customer confidence and Satisfaction.
• International acceptability of test results. Based on Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRA).