EA peer evaluation of DAkkS: requirements met in all accreditation activities, with biobanks evaluated for the first time; findings on planning assessments within the accreditation cycle
On 23 September 2026 DAkkS reported that it had completed the periodic on-site evaluation by the European co-operation for Accreditation (EA). From 14 to 18 September 14 evaluators from 13 European accreditation bodies checked compliance with Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 and ISO/IEC 17011; the overall result is positive.
- The team was led by a representative of the UK’s UKAS. Team members accompanied 11 DAkkS assessments at various locations in Germany, and at the Berlin office they drew file samples from all accreditation activities and technical areas; staff in Frankfurt am Main and Braunschweig were also involved.
- In its summary report the team confirmed that requirements are met for all accreditation activities — from testing and calibration laboratories through inspection and certification bodies to biobanks, which were evaluated for the first time.
- Findings concerned the planning of assessments within the accreditation cycle, which at DAkkS lasts five years — the maximum allowed by ISO/IEC 17011: in a few cases the assessment programme was not up to date and assessments did not always cover the full accredited scope. DAkkS must resolve the findings; the EA MAC will vote on its continued membership of the EA MLA, with a final decision expected during the coming year.
- The Czech accreditation body ČIA reported on 2 October 2026 that the EA MAC meeting in Paris at the end of September decided on the first cases of evaluating EA members in the field of biobanks and approved the creation of an EA MLA in this field.
Source: DAkkS — Vor-Ort-Evaluierung der DAkkS erfolgreich abgeschlossen (23.09.2026)