Dec 19, 201819 December 2018, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: The Secondary Standards Dosimetry Laboratory (SSDL) of The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) has been awarded the ISO 17025 Accreditation for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, the first of its kind in the Gulf region.
The SSDL, operated by FANR and hosted by Khalifa University of Science and Technology, will help provide radiation measurement and calibration services to equipment to ensure that accurately known doses are delivered to patients undergoing diagnosis and therapy, and that radiation measurement instruments used throughout the UAE, including in the nuclear energy programme, provide the expected degree of accuracy to support radiation protection.
The ISO 17025 accreditation for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories is the international reference for laboratories wanting to demonstrate their capacity to deliver reliable results. It is an embodiment of FANR’s commitment to protecting the public and environment and it supports its mandate as the nuclear regulator in the United Arab Emirates.
It was awarded after FANR complied with the ISO 17025’s stringent requirements such as impartiality of the lab and confidentiality of information processed during the lab’s activities and that it has adequate resources to properly conduct its activities, availability of equipment and competent staff. The requirements also include the lab to prove its conducts activities following technical methods, reports results to the customers, constantly seeks customers’ satisfaction..etc.
“The ISO 17025 Accreditation for our SSDL is a demonstration of FANR’s efforts towards excellence, which is a necessity to achieve our vision in becoming one of the leading nuclear regulator globally as well as ensuring the protection of the people and the environment. SSDL is one of cornerstones at FANR in building the radiation protection infrastructure in the UAE,” said Christer Viktorsson, Director-General of the UAE’s Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation.
HE Abdullah Al Maeeni, Director General of the Emirates authority for Standardisation & Metrology (ESMA), confirmed that ESMA is keen to push the strategic partners to the fullest extent that serves the public interest and makes it one of the main elements of the quality infrastructure system in the UAE.
The development of the quality infrastructure system is consistent with the National Agenda 2021 in the Sustainable Environment and Infrastructural Index, which contributes to enhancing the concepts of quality of life in the UAE, and achieving balance between economic and social development in an integrated framework of federal government efforts, By 2071, the UAE will be the best country in the world.
H.E Al Maeeni, said: this is linked to the implementation of a series of bold initiatives across diverse sectors in accordance with the mandate of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, as part of the "UAE 2071" plan.
The integration of government efforts at the federal level is clearly reflected in the adoption of the standard secondary laboratory for dosimetry of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation. (FANR) he added.
Dr. Rehab Faraj Al Ameri, Director of the National Accreditation Department, pointed out that the Federal Laboratory for Nuclear Regulation is the first laboratory to be accredited by the UAE National Accreditation System, according to the latest version of ISO / IEC 17025: 2017 on general requirements for efficiency Testing and calibration laboratories, which is the only calibration laboratory in the country accredited in this field.
She emphasized that the awarding of "national accreditation" in a highly specialized technical sector, such as the standard laboratory of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), is a clear indication of the efficiency of the UAE national accreditation system, and its rapid response to modern requirements and technology. Files of excellence and leadership in various sectors.
She pointed out that the granting of accreditation to the laboratory confirms the important role of the UAE national accreditation system and its continuous efforts to increase the efficiency of partners in the unique and specific business sectors that require exceptional levels of service delivery and will positively reflect the achievement of the strategic objectives of all parties.
In line with the objectives of the UAE national accreditation system, it is constantly seeking to develop and expand its services to meet the needs of partners and regulators in the UAE by providing innovative solutions and practices that support and ensure the provision of conformity assessment services to the highest standards of efficiency and quality. UAE national accreditation system in support of national agenda objectives.
Al-Ameri added that the field of accreditation of the laboratory is a very specialized in the field of measuring and calibration of nuclear radiation instruments. The accreditation process and the evaluation process were carried out through a specialized technical team with a high level of efficiency in the field of nuclear radiation. With the participation of technical experts from the Technical Advisory Committee of the UAE National Accreditation System.
Holding such a high-profile accreditation will help FANR’s SSDL demonstrate it operates competently and generate valid results, thereby promoting confidence in the work nationally and internationally. It will also help facilitate cooperation between laboratories and other international bodies by generating wider acceptance of results between countries.
FANR, being the UAE’s lead nuclear regulator, protects the UAE’s public, workers and the environment through its nuclear regulatory programmes in radiation protection as well as safety, security and non-proliferation that include licensing and inspection activities in line with international best practices.
The laboratory will assist customers, whether in medical, industrial or nuclear sector, to comply with FANR regulations as well as enable them to obtain the calibration services for their instruments locally within the UAE, rather than sending their equipment abroad.
The International Atomic Energy (IAEA) has played a significant role in supporting the establishment of the SSDL by providing international best practices, expertise and equipment.
In 2017, FANR’s SSDL passed two proficiency tests organized by the IAEA, demonstrating its technical capacity to provide radiation calibration services in the UAE. In February 2018, the FANR’s SSDL joined the IAEA/WHO SSDL Network. This network has 84 laboratories in 71 countries and is responsible to verify that the services provided by the national laboratories follow internationally accepted metrological standards.