„Accreditation“ refers to the process by which Notified Bodies are assessed for their competence as conformity assessment bodies.
Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 states that the first purpose of the accreditation process is „[…] that products benefiting from the free movement of goods within the Community fulfil requirements providing a high level of protection the protection of public interests, such as health and safety in general, health and safety at the workplace, the protection of consumers, protection of the environment, and security. […]“ (Regulation (EC) No. 765/2008, preamble, 1).
Since Notified Bodies, in their capacity as inspection bodies, carry out a so-called indirect state administrative function, this ‘inspection of the inspectors’ is extremely important.
