ISO 17025 (laboratory)

ISO/IEC 17025: General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, establishes the general requirements for the competence, impartiality, and consistency of laboratory activities. This international standard is applicable to all organizations performing laboratory activities, regardless of their size.

Since its first edition in 1999, ISO/IEC 17025 has become the essential international benchmark for laboratories wishing to demonstrate their ability to produce reliable results. This international standard, published jointly by ISO and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), establishes a set of requirements that enable laboratories to improve the validity and reproducibility of their results.

Certification to this standard is required for any organization wishing to provide calibration, testing, and sampling services to its customers. These activities can be carried out for research laboratories and companies in the mechanical, medical, agri-food, and environmental fields, to name but a few.

The standard presents a risk-based approach and requirements relating to processes, procedures, documented information, and organizational responsibility. Attention is paid to the principles of impartiality and confidentiality. In line with the latest ISO 9001 quality standard, it promotes the integration of these laboratory requirements into the company's management system.