THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
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SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
Independence - Freedom - Happiness
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No: 21/2010/TT-BKHCN
Hanoi, December 29, 2010
 
CIRCULAR
REGULATING MANAGEMENT ON ACCREDITATION ACTIVITIES IN VIETNAM
Pursuant to the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations dated June 29, 2006;
Pursuant to Decree No. 127/2007/ND-CP dated August 1, 2007 of the Government detailing the implementation of some articles of the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations;
Pursuant to Decree No. 28/2008/ND-CP dated March 14, 2008 of the Government regulating functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Science and Technology;
the Minister of Science and Technology release regulations on the management of accreditation activities in Vietnam are as follows:
Chapter 1.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 1. Regulation scope and subjects of application
1. This circular regulate the management of accreditation activities in Vietnam, including the conditions for accreditation organizations; the order and procedures for registration of accreditation activities; supervision of accreditation activities and the responsibility of the relevant parties.
2. This Circular applies to organizations that provide accreditation services (hereinafter referred to as accreditation organizations), conformity assessment institutions and the state management agencies related to accreditation activities.
Article 2. Interpretation of terms
In this Circular, the terms below are construed as follows:
1. Evaluation specialist is a qualified person whom is designated by an accreditation organization to evaluate the conformity assessment bodies. Evaluation specialists can perform an assessment independently or act as a member of the assessment team.
2. Chief evaluation specialist is a qualified person to whom an accreditation organization assigned to direct the implementation of specified evaluation activities.
3. Technical specialist is a qualified person whom is designated by an accreditation organization to ensure the provision of specific knowledge and skills about the scope of recognition to be assessed. A technical expert is a member of assessment team, supporting technically the assessment team, but is not an evaluation specialist.
4. Certification of registration of accreditation activities is consideration and evaluation of the capacity of an accreditation organization by a competent state agency in accordance with conditions for accreditation activities to grant a certificate of registration of accreditation activities.
Article 3. General principles
1. Accreditation organizations shall ensure their operational capacity meet the requirements specified in national standards, international standards and regulations of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), International Laboratory AccreditationCooperation (ILAC), Asian Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC), and Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC).
2. Experts of the accreditation organization must be trained and understand the standards, procedures, orders and principles for assessment corresponding to the accreditation program; meet