Positive EU assessment of the Serbian accreditation system

The European Commission "Serbia 2012 Progress Report”, published on 10th October 2012 in Brussels, provided a positive assessment of the Serbian accreditation system. The following sectoral fields were analysed: standardisation, accreditation, metrology and market surveillance (Chapter 1: Free movement of goods).

Pursuant to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and primary objectives to be attained during the EU accession process, the EC report provides the analysis of the Serbian legislation, administrative capacities, sectoral strategies and policies, and market development in terms of the to the EU acquis.

Significant progress was reported in the field of conformity assessment and accreditation given the increase in the number of accredited conformity assessment bodies (CABs). The Accreditation Body of Serbia (ATS) became a full member of the European co-operation for Accreditation (EA) in May 2012 and of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) in May 2012, while it became a member of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) in December 2011. ATS also extended its scope of activities. However, ATS capacities need to be upgraded through an increase in the number of employees.