ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Consultancy, Training and Historical Transition

1. Publication of ISO/IEC 17025:2017

ISO published the 2017 edition of ISO/IEC 17025 in November 2017. Its title is General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories.

The revision updated this widely used laboratory competence standard to reflect changes in laboratory environments and working practices.

ISO/IEC 17025:2017 — General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories — is an international standard for laboratories carrying out testing and calibration activities.

Official information about ISO/IEC 17025:2017 is available here .

Producing valid, widely trusted results is central to laboratory work. ISO/IEC 17025 supports laboratories in implementing an appropriate management system and demonstrating the technical competence needed to deliver reliable test and calibration results.

The standard facilitates cooperation between laboratories and other organisations by supporting wider acceptance of results across borders. Acceptance depends on applicable accreditation arrangements, scope and customer or regulatory requirements; it can reduce the need for repeat testing and facilitate international trade.

The 2017 revision responded to market and technological changes and newer laboratory working methods. It updated technical concepts and terminology, addressed developments in information technology and referenced ISO 9001:2015.

2. Main changes in the 2017 edition

• The scope includes testing, calibration and sampling associated with subsequent testing or calibration.
• The process approach aligns with related standards such as ISO 9001 for quality management, ISO 15189 for medical laboratories and ISO/IEC 17021-1 for certification bodies.
• Greater attention is given to information technology, including computer systems, electronic records, results and reports.
• Risk-based thinking is integrated into the requirements.

The original transition arrangements gave laboratories accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 three years from publication of the 2017 edition. ILAC later extended the end of the transition from November 2020 to 1 June 2021 because of COVID-19 restrictions. These dates are historical.

3. Historical transition notice from Vietnam’s Bureau of Accreditation

The original article reproduced an early transition notice from Vietnam’s Bureau of Accreditation (BoA). The schedule below is retained to explain that historical transition and is not a current application timetable.

Historical ISO/IEC 17025:2017 transition schedule

Notice to laboratories

To facilitate the transition, BoA announced the following schedule for laboratories applying for accreditation under the new edition:

• From 1 June 2018, BoA began accepting laboratory accreditation assessments against ISO/IEC 17025:2017.
• Laboratories not yet ready for the new edition could request assessment against ISO/IEC 17025:2005, adopted in Vietnam as TCVN ISO/IEC 17025:2007, until 31 December 2018.
• From 1 January 2019, new accreditation applications would be accepted only against ISO/IEC 17025:2017.
• Laboratories assessed, reassessed or subject to surveillance in 2018 against ISO/IEC 17025:2005 would undergo transition assessment to the 2017 edition at their next assessment in 2019.
• The early notice reproduced in the source article stated that certificates issued against ISO/IEC 17025:2005 would be valid only until 29 November 2020. The subsequent international transition extension is explained above.

Historical notice attributed to: Vietnam’s Bureau of Accreditation

4. ITVC consultancy and training for ISO/IEC 17025 implementation

ITVC Global supports laboratories in improving their management systems and preparing for assessment against ISO/IEC 17025:2017 through the following services:

a) ISO/IEC 17025:2017 consultancy

Stage 1: Preparation

• Review the laboratory’s management system against ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and prepare a gap-assessment report.
• Develop a detailed project implementation plan.
• Provide awareness training and explain the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2017.

Stage 2: Documentation improvement

• Guide the revision of existing documents.
• Add or maintain documented information appropriate to the laboratory’s size and scope.
• Assign document revisions to the relevant functions and responsible people.
• Complete the management-system documentation.

Stage 3: Implementation

• Approve and issue the documentation.
• Guide implementation and operation of the processes.
• Train internal auditors for ISO/IEC 17025:2017.
• Guide laboratory internal audits and corrective actions.
• Support management review of the system’s effectiveness and efficiency.

Stage 4: Preparation for accreditation assessment

• Help prepare records and documents for accreditation assessment.
• Review readiness after management-system improvements.
• Support corrective actions following findings from the accreditation body.
• Complete the project and support the laboratory through the accreditation process. The accreditation body independently decides whether accreditation is granted and determines its scope.

b) ISO/IEC 17025:2017 training

ITVC Global offers training covering:

• Awareness and interpretation of ISO/IEC 17025:2017 requirements.
• Internal-audit skills for ISO/IEC 17025:2017.
• Preparing and maintaining laboratory management-system documentation.

Official references

ISO/IEC 17025:2017 — official ISO information

ILAC — transition extension to 1 June 2021