Quezon City | February 10, 2023 – To introduce and explain the international standard on conformity assessment in relation to the monitoring and enforcement function of Regional Field Units, the FPA Regional Field Unit NCR conducted an Awareness Webinar on ISO/IEC 17020:2012 held on February 2, 2023 via zoom.

The event was participated by more than one hundred FPA personnel nationwide including representatives from the Fertilizer Regulations Division and the Pesticide Regulations Division.

“As a regulatory agency, there is need for us to build competence in performing inspection and for the impartiality and consistency of our inspection activities,” exclaimed Maribel Querijero, Regional Officer of FPA NCR.

She explained that FPA, as an inspection body, carry out assessments on behalf of private clients including fertilizer and pesticide handlers. Along the process, the Agency provides and explains information about the conformity of inspected items with FPA regulations and standards.

ISO/IEC 17020:2012 “covers the activities of inspection bodies whose work can include the examination of materials, products, installations, plants, processes, work procedures or services, and the determination of their conformity with requirements and the subsequent reporting of results of these activities to clients and, when required, to authorities.”

Moreover, inspection parameters include matters of quantity, quality, safety, fitness for purpose, and continued safety compliance of installations or systems in operation. The general requirements with which these bodies are required to comply in order that their services are accepted by clients and by supervisory authorities are harmonized in this International Standard.

Related trainings on the implementation and audit are currently in the pipeline to be attended by FPA Regional and Provincial Officers, and FRD and PRD representatives. ###

References: International Standard Organization. (2012). ISO/IEC 17020:2012(en) Conformity assessment — Requirements for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection. Retrieved https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:std:iso-iec:17020:ed-2:v1:en