Support of laboratory accreditation in Central and Eastern Europe by preliminary assessment

The development of a competent and reliable network of accredited laboratories represents one, among other, important means of removal of technical barriers to trade. The achievement of the goal "tested once-accepted everywhere" should be supported by carefully planned actions. The paper presents a detailed description of a proposal to develop European Cooperation for Accreditation (EA) laboratory multilateral recognition agreements in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries by preliminary laboratory accreditation assessment. The proposed concept could be a valid supporting approach to EA procedures, removing the main obstacles that may be present in the accreditation bodies of CEE countries, prior to entering the formal evaluation process. The proposed technique is rapid and of low cost, yet it should give a broad overview of the accreditation body's level of development.