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This is the overview of the RvA’s operational activities in 2024. For comparison, some overviews show the figures for 2023.
Accreditations granted as of 31 December 2024
New accreditations are regularly granted for the various standards. At the same time, mergers and acquisitions are also taking place in all segments, resulting in the withdrawal of accreditations. On balance, the total number of granted accreditations has decreased slightly. Within the medical laboratories, we see relatively many mergers, which is why the decrease is strongest there. |
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Standard |
Explanation |
Netherlands |
Abroad |
Total |
Netherlands |
Abroad |
Total |
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2023 |
2023 |
2023 |
2024 |
2024 |
2024 |
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Certification |
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ISO/IEC 17065 |
Products and services |
61 |
2 |
63 |
62 |
3 |
65 |
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ISO/IEC 17021 |
Management systems |
44 |
16 |
60 |
44 |
14 |
58 |
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ISO/IEC 17024 |
Persons |
7 |
0 |
7 |
6 |
0 |
6 |
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Subtotal certification |
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112 |
18 |
130 |
112 |
17 |
129 |
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Inspection |
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ISO/IEC 17020 |
Inspection |
143 |
1 |
144 |
140 |
1 |
141 |
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Subtotal inspection |
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143 |
1 |
144 |
140 |
1 |
141 |
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RvA mark laboratories |
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ISO/IEC 17025 |
Calibration |
62 |
0 |
62 |
61 |
0 |
61 |
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ISO/IEC 17025 |
Testing |
249 |
6 |
255 |
250 |
5 |
255 |
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ISO/IEC 17043 |
Proficiency testing |
13 |
1 |
14 |
13 |
1 |
14 |
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ISO 15189 |
Medical laboratories in MLA |
219 |
8 |
227 |
208 |
11 |
219 |
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EN/ISO 17034 |
Reference materials |
2 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
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Subtotal laboratories |
|
545 |
15 |
560 |
534 |
17 |
551 |
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Verification |
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ISO/IEC 17029 |
Verification |
2 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
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Subtotal verification |
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2 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
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Total number of accreditations granted |
|
802 |
36 |
838 |
788 |
37 |
825 |
New accreditations by type
The number of initial applications in 2024 was much lower than in 2023. This applies to all types of accreditations, with the exception of medical laboratories. Compared to 2023, the weighted average of the processing time in 2024 increased by 8%. |
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Type of accreditation |
New accreditations |
Average calendar days |
New accreditations |
Acerage processing time in calendar days |
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2023 |
2023 |
2024 |
2024 |
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Certification |
6 |
325 |
3 |
304 |
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Inspection |
6 |
303 |
3 |
251 |
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Calibration laboratories |
1 |
342 |
0 |
- |
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Testing laboratories |
7 |
344 |
4 |
354 |
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Medical laboratories |
3 |
300 |
3 |
306 |
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Verification |
4 |
162 |
0 |
- |
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Other |
2 |
148 |
0 |
- |
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Total |
29 |
284* |
13 |
308* |
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*This is a weighted average |
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Extensions of the scope of accreditation by type
The number of applications for scope extension was lower in 2024 for almost all activities than in 2023. The total weighted average of the processing time of the assessment of the extension applications in 2024 is more than 6% lower than in 2023. The average processing time does show large differences per activity and per individual request. |
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Type of accreditation |
Extensions |
Average calendar days |
Extensions |
Average calendar days |
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2023 |
2023 |
2024 |
2024 |
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Certification |
55 |
151 |
55 |
147 |
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Inspection |
19 |
176 |
8 |
166 |
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Calibration laboratories |
9 |
133 |
10 |
198 |
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Testing laboratories |
126 |
150 |
117 |
142 |
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Medical laboratories |
38 |
168 |
33 |
185 |
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Verification |
1 |
198 |
1 |
111 |
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Other |
2 |
182 |
1 |
133 |
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Total |
250 |
163* |
225 |
153* |
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*This is a weighted average |
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Lenient regimes
A linient regime applies to 15% of the accreditations granted. This percentage has remained the same compared to 2023. However, there have been shifts in the percentages per type of activity. |
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2023 |
2024 |
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Certification |
6% |
9% |
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Inspection |
17% |
20% |
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Calibration laboratories |
10% |
11% |
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Testing laboratories |
11% |
9% |
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Medical laboratories |
24% |
25% |
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Organizers of proficiency testing schemes |
21% |
14% |
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Total |
15% |
15% |
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If an RvA assessment team is of the opinion that a client does not meet the requirements, the team files a so-called nonconformity. It is possible that the client does not agree with the team’s interpretation of the requirements. In that case, the assessed party has the option of filing an interpretation dispute. The handling of such a dispute reveals how the standard should be interpreted.
Most disputes in 2024 still come from the ISO 15189 assessments, but the discrepancies are decreasing and the total number of disputes in 2024 is significantly less than in previous years.
The graph shows the number of disputes submitted per accreditation standard in the years 2022, 2023 and 2024.
The outcomes of interpretation disputes in 2024 (including ‘Pending’)
Withdrawn accreditations for some of the working areas
The table below shows per activity how many accreditations were withdrawn voluntarily and imposed in 2024 for some of the work areas. For comparison, the figures for 2023 are also shown. |
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Accreditation category |
Voluntary |
Imposed |
Total |
Voluntary |
Imposed |
Total |
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2023 |
2023 |
2023 |
2024* |
2024 |
2024 |
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Certification |
27 |
0 |
27 |
7 |
0 |
7 |
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Inspection |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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Calibration laboratories |
5 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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Testing laboratories |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
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Medical laboratories |
26 |
0 |
26 |
20 |
0 |
20 |
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Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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Total |
58 |
0 |
58 |
29 |
0 |
29 |
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* Some withdrawlas have now been lifted (2024: 1x certification, 1x testing, 2x medical) |
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Suspended accreditations for the entire scope
The table below shows per activity how many accreditations were withdrawn voluntarily and imposed in 2024 for the entire scope. For comparison, the figures for 2023 are also shown. |
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Accreditation category |
Voluntary |
Imposed |
Total |
Voluntary |
Imposed |
Total |
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2023 |
2023 |
2023 |
2024* |
2024 |
2024 |
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Certification |
2 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
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Inspection |
1 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
5 |
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Calibration laboratories |
3 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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Testing laboratories |
9 |
0 |
9 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
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Medical laboratories |
4 |
0 |
4 |
12 |
0 |
12 |
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Other |
3 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
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Total |
22 |
0 |
22 |
24 |
0 |
24 |
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* Some suspensions have now been lifted (2024: 1x testing, 3x medical) |
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Suspended accreditations for some of the work areas
In onderstaande tabel is per activiteit weergegeven hoeveel accreditaties in 2024 vrijwillig en opgelegd zijn geschorst voor een deel van de werkgebieden. Ter vergelijking zijn de cijfers over 2023 ook weergegeven. |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Accreditation category |
Voluntary |
Imposed |
Total |
Voluntary |
Imposed |
Total |
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2023 |
2023 |
2023 |
2024* |
2024 |
2024 |
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Certification |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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Inspection |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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Calibration laboratories |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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Testing laboratories |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
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Medical laboratories |
4 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
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Other |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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Total |
4 |
1 |
5 |
5 |
0 |
5 |
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* Some suspensions have now been lifted |
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Suspended accreditations for the entire scope
In onderstaande tabel is per activiteit weergegeven hoeveel accreditaties in 2024 vrijwillig en opgelegd zijn geschorst voor de gehele scope. Ter vergelijking zijn de cijfers over 2023 ook weergegeven. |
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Accreditation category |
Voluntary |
Imposed |
Total |
Voluntary |
Imposed |
Total |
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2023 |
2023 |
2023 |
2024* |
2024 |
2024 |
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Certification |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
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Inspection |
2 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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Calibration laboratories |
3 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
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Testing laboratories |
2 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
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Medical laboratories |
2 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
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Other |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
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Total |
9 |
1 |
10 |
4 |
3 |
7 |
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* Some suspensions have now been lifted |
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In accordance with the Dutch General Administrative Law Act (Algemene wet bestuursrecht), the RvA has a complaints procedure in place for any complaintsabout the RvA as an administrative authority. This procedure, QA008, can be accessed directly via our website (www.rva.nl/en).
The graph shows the number of complaints received about the RvA (with a breakdown by complainant’s area of work).
A complaint concerns the conduct of the RvA or an employee of the RvA. In 2024, we received 18 complaints. Most of the complaints were about (the timeliness of) communication.
The RvA always talks directly with the complainant. This appears to be the best way to be able to resolve the complaint satisfactorily.
Sometimes questions are received as complaints; these questions are answered and the complaints are registered as inadmissible. Other inadmissible complaints are in most cases not about the conduct of the RvA or of an RvA employee.
In the event of dissatisfaction or doubts about the work of an accredited organisation, a notification can be submitted to the RvA. As a rule, the person submitting the notification has already complained to the accredited institution. If this is not the case, the RvA will, as it sees fit, incorporate the information into the supervision of the accredited organisation.
The graph shows the number of reports received about accredited organizations.
A notification must be about the activities for which the organisation is accredited. Notifications contribute to the ability to express justified confidence in the accredited institution.
Most of the notifications concerned organisations that are accredited in the field of inspection and certification. The notifications are primarily about the performance of activities by the organisation in question and possible failure thereby to comply with the accreditation requirements.
In the case of inadmissible notifications, most were not first submitted as complaints to the accredited organisation, so they did not have the opportunity to resolve them. Another reason for declaring the notification inadmissible is that the notification is not about accredited activities.
In principle, notifications or alerts are investigated during the next regular assessment. In response to a notification, the RvA’s Executive Board may decide to carry out an extra assessment if the content of what has been alerted is such that doubts are raised about the reliability of the work of the accredited organisation. In 2024, two additional assessments are planned for the investigation of notifications. In 2023, there were none – and in 2022, there were 10 additional assessments.
No objections were submitted in 2024.
However, two freedom of information requests were submitted; both related to a suspension of an accredited organisation. This suspension was lifted during the processing of the freedom of information request.
