Frequently Asked Questions About PACI

PACI, the Global Product Accreditation & Conformity Institute, is an organization focused on accreditation, conformity assessment and related quality infrastructure activities. Its published framework may include accreditation, assessment, recognition, verification, membership and related programmes according to applicable requirements.

PACI aims to support confidence in defined conformity assessment activities through structured requirements, assessment processes, technical evaluation and appropriate oversight within the applicable programmes, schemes and scopes.

Conformity means fulfillment of specified requirements. Those requirements may be established by standards, regulations, technical specifications, contractual conditions, programme requirements or other defined criteria.

Quality infrastructure is the system of organizations, rules, standards, measurements, conformity assessment activities and related institutions that support the quality, safety, reliability and consistency of products, services and processes.

Standards provide defined requirements, methods, characteristics or guidance that help organizations achieve consistent outcomes. Their use can support comparability, interoperability, safety, quality and reliable conformity assessment.

A conformity assessment activity is an evaluation or determination of whether specified requirements have been fulfilled. Examples can include testing, inspection, certification, validation and verification, depending on the applicable activity and scope.

A conformity assessment body, commonly called a CAB, is an organization that performs one or more defined conformity assessment activities, such as testing, inspection, certification, validation or verification.

A defined scope identifies the exact activities and technical areas covered by an assessment, accreditation, recognition or other applicable status. A status should not be represented as covering activities outside its stated scope.

Accreditation is a formal process through which the competence and capability of an organization to perform specified conformity assessment activities are evaluated against defined requirements and a specified scope.

Organizations performing, or intending to perform, applicable conformity assessment activities may be eligible to apply, subject to the eligibility conditions, requirements and scope of the relevant PACI accreditation programme.

Depending on the applicable PACI schemes and scopes, organizations may include certification bodies, inspection bodies, laboratories and other entities performing defined conformity assessment activities.

An accreditation scope defines the specific activities for which an organization has been assessed. Depending on the scheme, it may identify standards, products, services, methods, sectors, technical areas or other defined parameters.

No. Accreditation applies to the defined scope for which the organization has been assessed. Activities outside the approved scope should not be represented as being covered by that accreditation.

The accreditation process may involve application, eligibility review, document evaluation, assessment activities, technical evaluation, treatment of findings and an accreditation decision. Continuing oversight or reassessment may apply according to the relevant PACI procedure and scheme.

There is no single processing period that applies to every application. Timing can depend on the organization, requested scope, completeness of documentation, assessment requirements, availability of evaluators and the resolution of any findings.

A defined or limited scope may be possible where the applicable PACI scheme permits it. The final scope is determined through the applicable application, assessment and decision process.

Scope expansion may be possible subject to the applicable PACI requirements. Additional documentation, technical review or assessment may be required before an expanded scope is granted.

A scope can potentially be reduced where the applicable rules allow it. Any reduction should be reflected in the organization’s official accreditation or status record.

After an accreditation decision, the organization remains subject to the applicable conditions, scope limitations and ongoing oversight requirements. Continued status depends on maintaining conformity with the relevant requirements.

No. Accreditation is not a guarantee that every activity or result produced by an organization is free from error. It relates to evaluated competence and specified activities within the defined scope and applicable requirements.

Not necessarily. Accreditation and regulatory approval are distinct concepts. Whether accreditation satisfies a regulatory requirement depends on the laws, regulations, contractual requirements or other applicable rules involved.

Conformity assessment is the process used to demonstrate or determine whether specified requirements relating to a product, process, service, system, person or organization have been fulfilled.

Depending on the applicable requirements, conformity assessment may include testing, inspection, certification, validation, verification and other defined evaluation activities.

Conformity assessment is the activity of evaluating whether specified requirements are fulfilled. Accreditation is a process for evaluating the competence of an organization that performs specified conformity assessment activities.

Accreditation generally concerns the demonstrated competence of an organization to perform specified conformity assessment activities. Certification is an attestation that a defined subject has fulfilled specified requirements within the applicable certification context.

Testing is a conformity assessment activity involving determination of one or more characteristics of a subject according to a specified procedure or method.

Inspection is a conformity assessment activity involving examination of a subject and determination of its conformity with specified requirements, as applicable to the inspection scope.

Validation is an activity used to establish the plausibility, suitability or adequacy of defined claims or information for a specific intended use or context, according to the applicable requirements.

Verification involves checking or evaluating information, statements or defined claims against specified requirements or evidence, according to the applicable verification process.

Impartiality helps ensure that assessment activities and decisions are objective and are not improperly influenced by commercial, financial, personal or other interests that could compromise confidence in the outcome.

Competence provides the technical and professional capability needed to perform defined conformity assessment activities consistently and reliably within the applicable scope.

Certification is an attestation by an independent or otherwise applicable certification function that a defined subject has fulfilled specified requirements within the relevant certification framework.

A certification document is normally issued by the organization responsible for the applicable certification activity. Where accreditation applies, the certification body should only represent accredited certification within its approved accreditation scope.

No. A certificate applies to the subject, requirements and scope identified on the certificate. It should not be interpreted as a blanket statement covering unrelated activities.

Depending on the certification framework, a certificate may contain the certificate number, organization or subject name, issue information, applicable standard or requirements, scope, status and other identification information.

Yes. Some certification schemes use defined validity periods, surveillance requirements, renewal cycles or other conditions. The specific certificate and applicable scheme should be checked for its current status.

Depending on the applicable certification rules, certification status can be suspended, reduced, withdrawn or otherwise changed when defined conditions are not satisfied.

No. Certification and government approval are separate concepts unless a specific law or regulatory framework expressly gives the certification a particular legal effect.

Recognized bodies are organizations or entities that have been formally recognized under an applicable PACI framework, arrangement or programme. The precise conditions and scope depend on the relevant PACI requirements.

An organization seeking recognition should contact PACI and provide information about its legal status, activities, competence, scope and other documentation required under the applicable recognition framework. Evaluation or review may then be undertaken as required.

Not necessarily. Accreditation and recognition are distinct concepts. Accreditation generally concerns competence for specified conformity assessment activities, while recognition may refer to a programme-specific or institutional arrangement defined by the applicable framework.

No. Recognition should be interpreted according to the exact programme, activities, scope and conditions under which it was granted.

An organization should use status wording that accurately reflects its official PACI record and applicable scope. It should not describe itself as accredited, recognized or endorsed beyond the exact status documented by PACI.

Use the PACI verification service and enter the relevant certificate, document or registration identification information. Where a QR code is provided, it may also be used to access the applicable verification page.

Depending on the document type, verification may require a certificate number, registration number, unique identification code, QR code or another identifier specified on the document.

Do not rely solely on the document until the discrepancy has been clarified. Contact PACI through its official contact channel and provide the relevant identification information for review.

Not necessarily. Verification should consider the complete information returned by the official verification process, including the identifier, subject, scope, status and other relevant data.

Where an applicable PACI document provides a QR code linked to an official verification service, scanning the code may provide a convenient route to the corresponding verification record.

The official verification page is intended to provide the authoritative electronic record available through the PACI system. Third-party copies, screenshots and independently reproduced documents should not replace the official verification process.

An accreditation scheme is a defined framework establishing the requirements, assessment approach, scope and other conditions used for a particular category of conformity assessment activity.

Different conformity assessment activities can involve different technical requirements, risks, competence criteria and assessment methods. Schemes allow those requirements to be defined more precisely for the activity concerned.

An organization may potentially participate in more than one applicable scheme where the relevant PACI requirements permit it and the organization satisfies the requirements for each applicable scope.

A scheme is the overall framework of requirements and processes. A scope identifies the particular activities, technical areas or subjects within that framework that have been assessed or otherwise approved.

Yes, where the applicable programme structure permits it. Each programme or scheme should be interpreted according to its own requirements and defined scope.

Broad claims can mislead users if they extend beyond the organization’s approved scope. Public statements should accurately identify the applicable scheme, scope and current status.

PACI membership is an institutional participation framework through which eligible organizations may engage with PACI activities, programmes or stakeholder arrangements according to the applicable membership category and requirements.

Eligibility depends on the applicable membership category. Potential participants may include organizations and stakeholders involved in accreditation, conformity assessment, standards, industry, technical activities or related fields, subject to PACI membership requirements.

The membership directory may distinguish categories such as Full Member, Associate Member, Stakeholder Member and Regional Member. The exact rights, responsibilities and eligibility conditions depend on the applicable PACI membership framework.

No. Membership and accreditation are different statuses. Membership indicates participation within an applicable PACI membership framework and does not by itself establish accreditation.

No. Membership does not itself constitute certification. Certification is a separate conformity assessment activity governed by its own requirements and scope.

Use the PACI Contact page for a membership enquiry. Where appropriate, include your organization name, country, activities and the membership category or purpose of the enquiry.

Requirements depend on the applicable PACI scheme and scope. Applicants may be asked for organizational information, legal details, management-system documentation, technical procedures, competence evidence, scope information and other supporting records.

Application information forms part of the basis for review and assessment. Inaccurate or incomplete information can delay processing, affect the assessment or result in a decision that does not reflect the intended scope.

An incomplete application may require clarification, additional documentation or further review before it can proceed. The exact treatment depends on the applicable PACI procedure.

Organizations should maintain appropriate document control and retain relevant records according to their own management-system requirements and any applicable PACI requirements.

Yes. Where necessary to evaluate eligibility, competence, scope or conformity with applicable requirements, additional information or evidence may be requested.

Impartiality means that assessment and decision-making activities are conducted objectively and are not improperly influenced by conflicts of interest or other pressures that could compromise confidence in the result.

Conflicts of interest can affect objective judgment. Identifying, evaluating and managing relevant conflicts helps protect the credibility and reliability of conformity assessment and accreditation activities.

Yes. Appropriate handling of confidential information is an important part of professional assessment and accreditation activities, subject to applicable legal, contractual and procedural requirements.

Yes. Assessment personnel should have the knowledge, skills and experience appropriate to the activities and technical scope they are evaluating, according to the applicable requirements.

Records provide evidence that relevant activities were performed and support traceability, review, decision-making and follow-up where required.

PACI presents its activities within an international accreditation, conformity assessment and quality-infrastructure context. The applicable recognition, cooperation or membership status of any external organization should always be verified from an authoritative source.

International recognition can refer to different forms of acceptance, cooperation or formal arrangements between organizations or programmes. The specific meaning depends on the arrangement and its documented requirements.

No. An external organization may be referenced for informational, technical or ecosystem purposes without being a PACI member. PACI membership should be established from the official PACI membership record.

Membership can include organizations associated with different countries or regions where the applicable PACI membership framework permits such participation.

No. Cooperation or recognition arrangements do not automatically create legal equivalence, regulatory acceptance or unrestricted mutual recognition. Their effect depends on the specific documented arrangement.

Where PACI provides a complaint channel for the relevant matter, a complaint may be submitted through the official contact or complaint process with sufficient information to identify the issue.

A useful complaint should identify the complainant where appropriate, the organization or document involved, the relevant date or reference number, the nature of the concern and supporting evidence where available.

An appeal is a request for reconsideration of a defined decision made under an applicable process. The availability, grounds and procedure for an appeal depend on the relevant PACI rules.

No. A complaint generally raises a concern about an activity, service or conduct, while an appeal challenges or requests reconsideration of a formal decision where an applicable appeal process exists.

Yes. Relevant evidence such as correspondence, documents, identification numbers, dates or other objective information can help a complaint be evaluated efficiently.

Yes. Complaints should be factual, specific and supported by available evidence. Clear information helps reduce ambiguity and supports appropriate review.