Cooperation among Department of Science Service (DSS) and 4 Ministries in Arranging the Seminar to Raise Awareness of World Accreditation

            Due to the importance of World Accreditation Day holding annually on June 9, Department of Science Service (DSS) along with 4 organizations including Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) of Ministry of Industry, National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards (ACFS) of Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Department of Medical Sciences (DMSC) of Ministry of Public Health, and National Institute of Metrology (NIMT) of Ministry of Science and Technology organized the seminar and exhibition with theme of “Accreditation: A Global Tool to Support Public Policy”. This year’s theme focuses on the role and the importance of accreditation to be a tool to promote public policy for all over the world.   Mrs. Atchaka Sibunruang, Minister of Industry presided over a seminar at the Centra Government Complex Hotel & Convention Centre, Chaeng Watthana, Bangkok on 1^st  October 2016.

         Dr. Suthiweth T.Saengchantara, Director General of DSS said “the accreditation raises the confidence in the competency of the assessment and accreditation activities orgranized by the conformity assessment bodies which are responsible for accrediting the product and service qualities, staff competency as well as testing. The conformity assessment bodies are also trusted and accepted by the member countries. These are beneficial to the assessment and accreditation systems of Thailand, international trade and competitiveness of Thai products and services in the World trade.”   

          The Director General of DSS also said “the Bureau of Laboratory Accreditation (BLA), DSS is a Thai government accreditation body (AB) authorized by National Standardization Council (NSC) of Thailand for providing the accreditation services for testing laboratories, arranging the proficiency testing (PT) programs, and producing the reference materials. The BLA-DSS has supported public policy continually. For example, the BLA-DSS has cooperated with Regulatory Body (RB), especially in aspect of pollution control for environmental protection, food safety, and feed quality.”

          In the morning session, Dr. Suthiweth T.Saengchantara, the Director General of DSS, Mr. Tawat Polquamdee, Secretary General of TISI, and Mr. Prayoon Shiowattana, Director of NIMT gave the special speech on “Accreditation: A Global Tool to Support Policy”, following by the debate on “Advantage of the accreditation for supporting public policy”. The debate was given by the experts from various fields including Police Major General Predee Pongsethasan, Deputy Commander In Chief, Office of Police Forensic Science, General Royal Thai Police, Mr. Kittipong Laonipon, Inspector General, Department of Labour Protection and Welfare, Ms. Ubonrat Soonthonrat, Professional Fishery Biologist, Department of Fisheries, Ms. Phanit Ratsuk, Director of Inspection and Enforcement Division, Pollution Control Department, and Ms. Chomdearn Satawoot, Managing Director of Thai Nondestructive Testing Public Company Limited. There were approximately 1,000 attendants in the morning session.

          In the afternoon session, there were 4 presentations drawing interest from a lot of attendants. The presentations were as follows: “Trend in Accreditation of conformity assessment body of Agricultural Commodity and Food” of Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, “How to select PT provider to suit your purpose” of Ministry of Science and Technology, “Inspection of crime scene, firearms, and fingerprint according to ISO/IEC 17020” of Ministry of Industry, and “Accreditation of chemical laboratories for safety administration” of National Research Council of Thailand.

The Certification Ceremony of Laboratory Accreditation issued by DSS

       On 24^th June 2016 at Akkaramatee room, 6th floor, Tua-Lapanukom building, DSS. Dr. Suthiweth T. Saengchantara, Director-General of the Department of Science Service (DSS) presided over the ceremony for granting the ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accreditation certificates to 3 laboratories including Pathum Thani Feed and Forage Analysis Laboratory Bureau of Animal Nutrition Development, Department of Livestock Development Testing Laboratory of Ajinomoto Co., (Thailand) Ltd., Phra Pradaeng Factory and Bangkok Ranch Public Company Limited Laboratory Sing Buri branch.

DSS signed an exclusive cooperation agreement for driven research and services in ceramics and glass area at the Korea Institute of Ceramic Technology and Engineering (KICET)

        On May 25, 2016. Department of Science Service signed an exclusive cooperation agreement for driven research and services in ceramics and glass area at the Korea Institute of Ceramic Technology and Engineering (KICET) Busan, Republic of Korea.

       Dr. Suthiweth T. Saengchantara Director General Department of Science Service, Dr. Kang Seok-joong President of KICET, Dr. Hyung Tae Kim director of KICET Icheon branch and delegations from the two agencies had a meeting planning of future work under the collaboration and signed the agreed minute on cooperation in driving research and services in ceramics and glass area at the KICET, Republic of Korea. Department of Science Service, Thailand, aims of this cooperation will lead to personnel preparation on research in ceramic and glass with special functional properties in order to develop innovative products for new applications.

DSS Granted the ISO/IEC 17025:2005 Laboratory Accreditation Certificate for NEL, NREI, LAO PDR

          Department of Science Service (DSS) granted the ISO/IEC 17025:2005 laboratory accreditation certificate, accreditation no. testing-0132for National Environment Laboratory (NEL), Environmental Quality Monitoring Center, Natural Resources and Environmental Institute (NREI), LAO PDR, in the scope of COD in wastewater, cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, and lead in surface water. The granting ceremony was held on the 10^th March 2016 at Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, LAO PDR and presided over by Mdm. Bounkham Vorachit, Deputy Minister of Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The certificate was given to Mdm. Sisouphanh Vongdara, Head of NREI by Dr. Suthiweth T. Saengchantara, Director - General of DSS. The ceremony was attended by about 50 honored stakeholders namely management team and the NELlaboratory staff from the Lao PDR’s legal regulatory authority.

       In conjunction with the ceremony, NREI arranged a special presentation under the title, “Importance and advancetage of accredited laboratories” and the presentation was delivered by Mrs. Dusadee Munkwamdee, acting director of Bureau of Laboratory Accreditation (BLA). The purposes are providing stakeholders with an understanding and awareness of the importance of the reliable test results from accredited laboratories. The laboratory accreditation is a measure of the quality and capacity of laboratories to be recognized and a good image of the laboratory.  The accreditation provides objective proof that the services are operated completely to ensure the trustworthiness of the test reports both nationally and internationally.