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trust

safety

free trade

opportunities

market access

 

We are DAkkS

We are the German Accreditation Body (DAkkS), the national accreditation authority of the Federal Republic of Germany. Our accreditations create trust in the work of laboratories, inspection and certification bodies, whose assessment services are needed in many economic sectors. With an accreditation, we confirm that these organisations can competently perform their work in accordance with the requirements of internationally valid standards, legal principles and relevant regulations. This is our legal mandate. With our accreditations, we help to make products, processes and services safer and to simplify trade in Europe and the world – in the interests of the state, the economy and the protection of society and the environment.

News Selection of our news

DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 testing laboratories DAkkS changes category designations to present flexible scopes of application
DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 testing laboratories DAkkS changes category designations to present flexible scopes of application

With the adjustment of its body of rules, DAkkS is introducing new categories for the presentation of flexible scopes on its certificate annexes, thereby changing its previous practice. The new category designations make it clearer than was previously the case that the categories build on each other and are used to avoid misinterpretation.

World Accreditation Day 2024 Accreditation as a root of trust for digital developments
World Accreditation Day 2024 Accreditation as a root of trust for digital developments

Under the motto “Accreditation: Empowering Tomorrow and Shaping the Future”, this year’s World Accreditation Day 2024 calls attention to the opportunities and challenges of pioneering developments in a world in transition. How can the instrument of accreditation create trust in new technologies and digital trends?

Commitment to greater information security in Germany DAkkS is a participant in the “Alliance for Cyber Security”
Commitment to greater information security in Germany DAkkS is a participant in the “Alliance for Cyber Security”

The goal of the “Alliance for Cyber Security” (ACS), a cooperative platform of the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), is to strengthen Germany’s resilience as a business location against cyber attacks. With immediate effect, Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle (DAkkS) is now part of this strategic alliance.

Certification bodies in the area of sustainable construction Successful accreditations of certification bodies for the award of the QNG
Certification bodies in the area of sustainable construction Successful accreditations of certification bodies for the award of the QNG

With the “Sustainable Building Quality Seal (QNG)”, the German federal government offers a government seal of quality for assessing the sustainability of buildings. The QNG is reviewed and awarded by accredited certification bodies whose technical competence and independence are monitored by DAkkS in its capacity as the national accreditation authority.

Digital quality infrastructure Digital accreditation symbol – contribution to trustworthy chains of evidence at international level
Digital quality infrastructure Digital accreditation symbol – contribution to trustworthy chains of evidence at international level

DAkkS, Germany’s national accreditation body was the first accreditation body worldwide to develop and introduce a digital accreditation symbol.

Accreditation portal goes online DAkkS-PORT makes accreditation more customer-orientated
Accreditation portal goes online DAkkS-PORT makes accreditation more customer-orientated

With the new online portal, Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle (DAkkS) will digitise its administrative services in the future.

International cooperation Digital accreditation symbol as a component of trustworthy international chains of evidence
International cooperation Digital accreditation symbol as a component of trustworthy international chains of evidence

Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle (DAkkS) is currently actively working to raise awareness of the digital accreditation symbol among international partners, with a view to paving the way for worldwide use of the digital accreditation symbol.

Digital quality infrastructure Digital accreditation symbol and digital calibration certificate: DAkkS and PTB prepare introduction
Digital quality infrastructure Digital accreditation symbol and digital calibration certificate: DAkkS and PTB prepare introduction

Fast, straightforward and useful – that is the verdict of pilot phase clients on their use of the digital accreditation symbol of Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle (DAkkS). From 30 March 2024, accredited bodies can apply for the digital accreditation symbol.

Biobanks DAkkS accredits first biobank
Biobanks DAkkS accredits first biobank

Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle (DAkkS) has become one of the first national bodies in Europe to accredit a biobank in accordance with the DIN EN ISO 20387 standard.

Closing event in Yerevan Twinning project with Armenia successfully completed
Closing event in Yerevan Twinning project with Armenia successfully completed

After a period of 22 months, the Twinning project between the European Union (EU) and the National Accreditation Body of Armenia (ARMNAB) has been successfully completed. Under the leadership of the German accreditation body Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle (DAkkS), ARMNAB was prepared for the EA recognition process on the basis of international standards and in accordance with the EU regulatory framework.

Closing event in Tbilisi Twinning project with Georgia successfully completed
Closing event in Tbilisi Twinning project with Georgia successfully completed

After a period of 39 months, the Twinning project to “Strengthen the accreditation system in Georgia with a focus on European technical regulation” has been successfully completed. As part of a German-Italian consortium, Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle (DAkkS) was responsible for project management.

Digital quality infrastructure DAkkS and PTB start test phase for digitisation project
Digital quality infrastructure DAkkS and PTB start test phase for digitisation project

Germany’s national accreditation body DAkkS and the National Metrology Institute of Germany (PTB) have given the go-ahead for the pilot phase of the digital calibration certificate with a digital accreditation symbol.

New: The digital accreditation symbol Important step towards digital quality infrastructure

Since April 2024, accredited bodies can now also receive the specific state accreditation symbol of the DAkkS in digital form. DAkkS is the world's first accreditation body to offer a digital accreditation symbol that can be used to digitally sign confirmations of conformity from industry and business and make them tamper-proof and machine-readable as an “eAttestation”. This allows the values from any digital test report, calibration certificate or certificate to be processed directly. In addition, the recipients of these digital confirmations can use the digital accreditation symbol to check the validity of the accreditation in real-time and thus place even more trust in the issuer of the document. This not only increases security, but also reduces costs, saves time and thus increases efficiency.

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Foto: Unsplash/Glenn Carstens-Peters

Database of accredited bodies One for all

Are you looking for conformity assessment bodies accredited by DAkkS? Whether it’s inspection, certification or verification and validation bodies, testing, calibration or medical laboratories, reference material producers or providers of proficiency testing. The DAkkS database of accredited bodies provides you with information.

Go to Database of accredited bodies

Start your accreditation! Step by step

In the first step, accreditation begins with your decision in favour of the procedure of an accreditation and the numerous benefits associated with it. After a successful application, DAkkS assesses both the independence of the conformity assessment body making the application and its technical competence, including for example the qualifications of its staff, the quality management system, the necessary equipment and facilities and the methods used. The procedure consists of a defined process in several steps, among them the application, assessment, accreditation decision and surveillance.

The entire process at a glance

Accreditation activities The types of conformity assessment

  • Testing and calibration laboratories (DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025)
  • Medical laboratories (DIN EN ISO 15189)
  • Inspection bodies (DIN EN ISO/IEC 17020)
  • Certification bodies for management systems (DIN EN ISO/IEC 17021-1)
  • Certification bodies for persons (DIN EN ISO/IEC 17024)
  • Certification bodies for products, processes and services (DIN EN ISO/IEC 17065)
  • Validation and verification bodies (DIN EN ISO 14065)
  • Proficiency testing providers (DIN EN ISO/IEC 17043)
  • Reference material producers ( DIN EN ISO 17034)
  • Biobanks (DIN EN ISO 20387)

Accreditation activities in detail

Foto: DAkkS/Plambeck

Careers working at DAkkS

Are quality and safety important to you? Does the thought of working at a company at the interface between industry, politics and society appeal to you? Do you value collegiality and a responsible employer? Then find out here about job vacancies at DAkkS.

Link to the DAkkS career pages

Facts and figures current figures, data and facts about DAkkS

Zahl der Akkreditierungen

5600

valid accreditation certificates

25

technical units

ca. 280

employees

ca. 950

external assessors

Foto: DAkkS/Plambeck

Assessors at DAkkS Information for DAkkS assessors and for those looking to become one

Some 950 system and technical assessors as well as technical experts from public and private institutions are involved in national and international accreditation cases on behalf of DAkkS. Here you will find all relevant information about the work of assessors, including ways to become a DAkkS assessor, relevant documents and events for assessors and our current vacancies.

Link to more information about DAkkS assessors

Basis of our work Mission statement, work practices and legal basis

Our work as the national accreditation body is governed by a number of cast-iron foundations and principles, which include not only the legal requirements in place at national and European level – first and foremost the German Act on the Accreditation Body – but also international standards and rules for accreditation bodies. These provide the legal framework for our activities as the sole service provider for accreditation in Germany. However, together with the fundamental principles of our work practices – independence, objectivity and impartiality – and our mission statement, they also constitute the foundation of our business activities.

Go to overview

Foto: Adobe Stock / pogonici

International recognition Tested once, accepted everywhere

DAkkS is firmly anchored in the European and international accreditation structures. We are a member of the European co-operation for Accreditation, the International Accreditation Forum and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation, and have signed their multilateral agreements. The goal of international cooperation is to enable the worldwide acceptance of conformity assessments through accreditation, with a view to reducing international barriers to trade.

Link to more information

Foto: Adobe Stock / whyframeshot

Organisational structure of DAkkS Organisation chart, committees and bodies

Here you can find everything you need to know about the organisational structure of DAkkS, from the four technical departments and information about the Executive Board to the committees and bodies in place at DAkkS and their functions and responsibilities.

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Document database Find the right documents here

In our comprehensive document database, we provide you with all DAkkS documents relating to the accreditation process for download. In the database, you will find everything from policy documents and forms to checklists and other documents.

Link to the document database

© 2024 Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle
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