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We are DAkkS

We are Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle (DAkkS), the national accreditation body of the Federal Republic of Germany. Our accreditations establish confidence in the work of testing, inspection and certification bodies whose assessment services are required in many sectors of the economy. With an accreditation, we confirm that these organisations can perform their work competently and in accordance with the requirements of internationally applicable standards, legal bases and relevant rules. That is our legal mandate. With our accreditations, we help to make products, processes and services safer and to simplify trade in Europe and around the world – in the interests of the nation and the economy, of protecting society and the environment.

News Selection of our news

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.

DAkkS body of rules New rule document for testing laboratories published
DAkkS body of rules New rule document for testing laboratories published

Nach Abschluss des Konsultationsverfahrens hat die DAkkS die neue „Regel zur Anwendung der DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 zur Akkreditierung von Prüflaboratorien“ (R-17025-PL) veröffentlicht und in Kraft gesetzt.

New committee structure DAkkS establishes new Expert Council
New committee structure DAkkS establishes new Expert Council

With the newly established Expert Council, Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle (DAkkS) is moving away from the former fixed structures in a more flexible and future-oriented way of working.

Digital quality infrastructure Calibration certificates and national emblems: the digital future
Digital quality infrastructure Calibration certificates and national emblems: the digital future

The National Metrology Institute of Germany (PTB) and Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle (DAkkS) have now begun a close collaboration on the practical introduction of such machine-readable calibration certificates (DCCs) with a digital national emblem.

DAkkS organisational structure Bernd Kowalski new Chairman of the Supervisory Board of DAkkS
DAkkS organisational structure Bernd Kowalski new Chairman of the Supervisory Board of DAkkS

The members of the DAkkS Supervisory Board elected Bernd Kowalski as their new Chairman at the meeting on 1 December 2022.

EA Evaluation DAkkS successfully completes EA on-site evaluation
EA Evaluation DAkkS successfully completes EA on-site evaluation

DAkkS has successfully completed the regular on-site evaluation undertaken by the European accreditation organisation (EA).

International Strategy meeting of DAkkS and RvA in Berlin
International Strategy meeting of DAkkS and RvA in Berlin

Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle (DAkkS) welcomed a delegation from the Dutch accreditation body Raad voor Accreditatie (RvA) to a joint working meeting in Berlin.

DAkkS organisational structure Change in the DAkkS Supervisory Board
DAkkS organisational structure Change in the DAkkS Supervisory Board

On 31 July 2022, Prof. Dr. Manfred Hennecke stepped down as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle GmbH (DAkkS) as planned.

Certifications of energy management systems DAkkS converts accreditations to DIN ISO 50003:2022
Certifications of energy management systems DAkkS converts accreditations to DIN ISO 50003:2022

DAkkS is now converting all accreditations in the scope of energy management systems (EnMS) to DIN ISO 50003:2022. Guidance on conversion is published on the DAkkS website. The new standard supplements and fleshes out the requirements of DIN EN ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 for EnMS certification bodies.

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 the DAkkS

Zahl der Akkreditierungen

4800

valid accreditation certificates

26

Technical units

250

Employees

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.

Learn more

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

© 2023 Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle
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