Sep 25, 2023 Last Updated 3:30 PM, Jul 4, 2023

JANAAC's Rights & Duties

Rights
JANAAC has the right to:

  1. Deny, withdraw or suspend the accreditation to/of any conformity assessment body (CAB) which does not fulfil the requirements of the relevant standard, the CABs written procedures, relevant legislation or JANAACs criteria for accreditation;
  2. Deny, withdraw or suspend the accreditation to/of any CAB where it is proven that the CAB falsified information and/or there is evidence of fraudulent behaviour;
  3. Require that CABs make a formal application for accreditation;
  4. Assess the CABs management system, records, activities etc. as it relates to the scope of accreditation;
  5. To change the frequency of the surveillance visits depending on the results of other assessments (e.g. in the cases of appeals or complaints);
  6. To request effective implementation of corrective actions for nonconformities identified from assessment visits or for violations of the terms and conditions of the accreditation and use of the symbol or the accredited CAB combined ILAC MRA mark;
  7. To publicize infractions by the CAB and, if necessary, take legal or other action to deal with incorrect use of the accreditation, the symbol or the accredited CAB combined ILAC MRA mark by the CAB;
  8. Ask for and receive in a timely manner any information, records or documents relating to any activities which fall under the CABs scope of accreditation;


Duties
JANAAC has the duty to:

  1. Conduct assessments in a fair, competent and impartial manner;
  2. Keep CAB information and documents confidential, except where the law requires that information be made public;
  3. Continually fulfill the requirements of the standard which governs the operation of an accreditation body and the mandatory requirements of the IAAC and ILAC, in providing accreditation services;
  4. Inform CABs about changes in accreditation requirements which may occur based on internationally accepted guidelines and as required by the JANAAC Accreditation Council;
  5. Require the CAB to make the necessary adjustments to its procedures within an agreed timeline, when accreditation requirements are changed;
  6. Carry out the required accreditation activities as scheduled;
  7. Promote the accredited CAB in respect of the CABs name, address and accredited services, on the JANAAC website, etc.;
  8. Allow accredited CABs to use the fact of its accreditation and the accreditation symbol or the accredited CAB combined ILAC MRA mark in its advertising, marketing programmes and documents (as it relates to activities which fall under the CABs scope of accreditation;
  9. Allow accredited CABs to use the accreditation symbol or the accredited CAB combined ILAC MRA mark only on test reports where 80% or more of the tests are accredited and clearly indicating which activities are accredited;
  10. Consider the views expressed of CABs expressed regarding the precise form and effective date of changes to accreditation requirements;
  11. Guide CABs, where requested, on how to obtain suitable information regarding traceability of measurement results, in relation to the scope for which accreditation is provided;

Medical Laboratory
Transition Implementation Policy

ILAC, in consultation with ISO, has agreed on a three-year period for medical laboratories that demonstrate conformity to the ISO 15189:2012 standard, to make the transition from the ISO 15189:2012, to the ISO 15189:2022 standard.

The Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC), in keeping with this communique, requires its accredited medical laboratories to make this transition by December 6, 2025. After this date, accreditation to ISO 15189:2012 will no longer be valid.

During this transition period, both revisions of the standard are equally valid and applicable. JANAAC will facilitate the use of internal documents that will feature compliance with both versions of the standard until December 31, 2024.

Medical Laboratories may continue to submit applications for accreditation to the ISO 15189:2012 up to September 30 2023, in which case, initial assessments must be concluded by March 31, 2024.

After September 30, 2023, JANAAC will no longer be accepting applications for ISO 15189:2012 accreditation.

After December 31, 2024, all assessments (initial, re-assessments and interim assessments, including scope extensions) will be conducted using the revised standard, ISO 15189:2022... Read more