The NAB-MALTA is today publishing two new documents:
- ATG17 “Management of Extraordinary Events or Circumstances”
- ATG09 “Remote Assessments”
This is partly in response to the difficulties and challenges imposed by the recent COVID-19 pandemic as well as the added flexibility provided by the latest version of ISO/IEC17011.
ATG17 is a mandatory document which has been drawn up to outline the NAB-MALTA Policy when extraordinary events or circumstances, similar to the recent COVID-19 pandemic, prevent the conformity assessment bodies (CABs) to conduct conformity assessment activities according to the defined systems, programs or schemes. It is based on the requirements of EN ISO/IEC 17011:2017 and the principles of IAF ID12:2015. The publication also explains the general policy of the NAB-MALTA in the case that events or circumstances prevent the NAB-MALTA from conducting accreditation activities according to regular procedures. An Extraordinary event or circumstance A circumstance beyond the control of the organization, commonly referred to as “Force Majeure” or “act of God”. Examples are war, strike, riot, political instability, geopolitical tension, terrorism, crime, pandemic, flooding, earthquake, malicious computer hacking, other natural or man-made disasters. This mandatory document comes into effect on publication i.e. on 17th June 2020.
ATG09
is a document which as been drawn up to give guidance on remote assessments. This is a concept which the NAB-MALTA was already working on. It is based on the requirements of EN ISO/IEC 17011:2017 and the principles of IAF ID12:2015 and ISO/IEC 19011:2018. A remote assessment is defined as the assessment of the physical location or virtual site of a conformity assessment body using electronic means. It is the sole authority of the NAB-MALTA to decide in which cases remote assessments are feasible and can be carried out. The NAB-MALTA will continue to accept extensions to scope which can be performed solely by a desk review, in cases where no additional technical competences are required by the CAB. It is important to note that remote assessments will not eliminate the need for on-site assessments during an accreditation cycle. Initial assessments and extensions to scope, either requiring new competencies or in new technical areas, will only be considered for remote assessment in exceptional cases. The preferred platform for remote assessments will be Microsoft Teams.These publications are available for free download from Guides and Policies.