ISO/IEC 17025:1999 Historical

This International Standard specifies the general requirements for the competence to carry out tests and/or calibrations, including sampling. It covers testing and calibration performed using standard methods, non-standard methods, and laboratory-developed methods.

This International Standard is applicable to all organizations performing tests and/or calibrations. These include, for example, first-, second- and third-party laboratories, and laboratories where testing and/or calibration forms part of inspection and product certification.

This International Standard is applicable to all laboratories regardless of the number of personnel or the extent of the scope of testing and/or calibration activities. When a laboratory does not undertake one or more of the activities covered by this International Standard, such as sampling and the design/development of new methods, the requirements of those clauses do not apply.

The notes given provide clarification of the text, examples and guidance. They do not contain requirements and do not form an integral part of this International Standard.

This International Standard is for use by laboratories in developing their quality, administrative and technical systems that govern their operations. Laboratory clients, regulatory authorities and accreditation bodies may also use it in confirming or recognizing the competence of laboratories.

Compliance with regulatory and safety requirements on the operation of laboratories is not covered by this International Standard.

If testing and calibration laboratories comply with the requirements of this International Standard they will operate a quality system for their testing and calibration activities that also meets the requirements of ISO 9001 when they engage in the design/development of new methods, and/or develop test programmes combining standard and non-standard test and calibration methods, and ISO 9002 when they only use standard methods. Annex A provides nominal cross-references between this International Standard and ISO 9001 and ISO 9002. ISO/IEC 17025 covers several technical competence requirements that are not covered by ISO 9001 and ISO 9002.