Companies accredited by DANAK have the right and obligation to use the accreditation mark with the "Crown" on accredited reports and certificates issued to customers.

The requirements accredited companies must meet can be divided into two types:

• General requirements in international standards for organisation, quality management, impartiality and competence etc. of compagnies.
• Specific requirements on technical competence in the field of methods (testing and calibration laboratories) or other normative documents containing requirements in assessing processes, products or personnel (certification and inspection bodies).

Thus, an accreditation means that a laboratory or a certification or inspection body can demonstrate to clients, public authorities and others that their products or services fulfil demands in standards, rules and regulations or other specified demands on safety, health, quality or environment.

When companies or authorities are provided with documentation that a product, a service or any other conditions is assessed by an accredited body they can have confidence in fulfilment of e.g. environmental or health requirements.

Higher competitiveness and a larger market

An accreditation helps ensure the quality of the performance of a company, due to the requirement to document the production process and the regular supervision of the company by the accreditation body.

Improved quality management means better production performance resulting in a more competitive business.

A DANAK accreditation is not only a Danish approval it is also a European and global approval. DANAK has signed an agreement on mutual recognition of accredited reports and certificates with a number of countries, and therefore an accredited company can refer to its DANAK accreditation in more than 50 countries. Furthermore, accreditation has been recognised by the EU as a means of harmonisation and realisation of the single market.

Security for consumer and society

It is not only the individual company that benefits form accreditation. Accreditation helps ensure quality, environment, safety, and public health nationally as well as internationally. The ongoing control of processes and services supplied by accredited companies ensures that laws are kept and rules and regulations followed.

Various types of accreditation

DANAK offers accreditation in the following fields:

• Laboratories for testing and calibration and within the health care sector

• Certification of quality management systems, environment management systems, energy management systems, occupational health management systems, products, personnel, verification of CO₂ statements, and information security management systems
as well as food safety management systems.
• Inspection
• Environmental verifiers (EMAS Scheme)

Approvals

• Inspection according to the OECD rules for Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)
• Appointment and notification in compliance with the EU directive on building construction products, based on accreditation

Accreditation is a continuing process

The accreditation process is described step by step in guides:

• Accreditation of certification and inspection bodies Step by Step
• Accreditation of testing and calibration laboratories Step by Step

Rights and obligations in connection with accredited services

Once accredited the company has both the right and the obligation to perform tasks within the field of accreditation.

Objectivity and confidentiality

All clients related matters at DANAK are treated with objectivity and confidentiality.

DANAK establishes contact between accredited suppliers and clients

Names of all companies accredited by DANAK are published on the web-site. This enables a search in the database of accredited companies. The search functions include search for specific companies, areas of accreditation and types of tasks e.g. various testing methods. Thereby DANAK offers the opportunity to find accredited suppliers through the website.