DAkkS and KBA intensify cooperation
Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle (DAkkS) and the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) have extended their cooperation on the type approval of motor vehicles. In a joint agreement, the two stakeholders have made further arrangements on how the assessment, designation and monitoring of so-called technical services in vehicle approval procedures is carried out on the basis of DAkkS accreditation.
In the underlying Regulation (EU) 2018/858, the European legislature has set out the ways in which the technical services involved in vehicle approval procedures can be assessed, designated and monitored for all EU Member States. Among other things, an organisation can demonstrate that it meets the relevant requirements to be designated as a technical service by the competent national type-approval authority by successfully completing an accreditation procedure in this area.
In Germany, the designation of a technical service in these cases is carried out by the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), while the DAkkS as the national accreditation authority assesses, confirms and monitors its competence.
New arrangements for review of requirements
The joint agreement between KBA and DAkkS governs their responsibilities and essential duties, in particular with regard to the mutual exchange of information between the two authorities.
In the past, an accreditation could already serve in the process of designation as proof of whether a technical service meets the requirements of the relevant basic standards DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025, DIN EN ISO/IEC 17020 or DIN EN ISO/IEC 17021-1. In addition, DAkkS now also verifies whether a service provider complies with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2018/858. Based on an EU model, KBA and DAkkS have jointly developed a checklist specifically for this purpose.
As an alternative to accreditation, technical services can also be assessed and designated by a European assessment team under the direction of KBA. If the accreditation fully covers the scope of the designation being sought, it replaces the assessment by this team. Before applying for accreditation, KBA and DAkkS therefore recommend agreeing the scope accreditation required for the designation with KBA.
If a technical service wishes to use the accreditation as the basis for its designation and subsequent notification to the EU, this must always be indicated in the application for accreditation to DAkkS.
Other EU framework regulations to be applied in the vehicle approval procedure do not yet provide for the application of the new designation procedure arrangements. Irrespective of this, accreditation can also be used here for designation by KBA. Here again, the intended use in the designation procedure must be noted in the application for accreditation.
