食品檢驗機構認證及委託認證管理辦法

These regulations are promulgated pursuant to the Paragraph 3of Article 37 of the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation (hereinafter referred to as the Act).

1Definition of the terms herein employed are as follows:

21. Testing institution: It refers to a testing body (institution), corporation, or group possessing the capacity to implementfood testing.

32. Accreditation: It refers to the procedure established under this set of regulations instituted to validatethe testing competence of a testing institution for a particular testing item.

43. Sanitation Standards: It refers to the permissible tolerance, standards, limitation standards, or provisional standards defined in Paragraph 2 of Article 15, Article 17, Paragraph 1 of Article 18, or Article 19 of the Act.

1Testing institutions applying for accreditation shall have their exclusive test laboratory that meets the following requirements

21. Equipped with the essential test equipment, space, and quality management system, capable of performing tests independently.

32. Complete with a laboratory head, a report signatory, a technical manager, a quality control manager, and the pertinent test personnel possessing the following qualifications:

4(1) Education: graduates from medicine, chemistry, biology, or food science programs of a college, university or higher education institution, either a domestic one or a foreign one that meets the requirements in the Regulations Governing the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Academic Records by Institutions of Higher Education;

5(2) Work Experience:

61. for the laboratory head, the report signatory, the technical manager, and the quality control manager, having completed quality management related professional training and at least 3 years of testing related work experience;

72. for test personnel, having completed testing work related training.

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1Testing institutions applying for accreditation shall submit an application form, togetherwith the following supporting documents and information to the central competent authority:

21. the certificates manifesting the compliance with the requirements stipulated in the preceding article;

32. documents certifying the testing capability;

43. documents prepared in accordance with the Basic Guidelines Governing the Quality System of Testing Institutions and Laboratories as provided by the central competent authority:

5(1) Quality Manual;

6(2) Standard operating procedures for methods of testing, including the measures for quality control of testing results;

7(3) Assessment report of uncertainty of measurements in case of an application filed for quantitative test item;

8(4) Amethod validation assessment report if the central competent authority does not prescribe a testing method foratest item under accreditation application pursuant to Article 38 of the Act;

Where the documents and information stipulated in the foregoing article do not comply with regulations or is found incomplete, the central competent authority shall issue a supplementation request and deadline to the applicant; where requirement is not fulfilled within the prescribed deadline, application shall be denied.

1The central competent authority shall conduct a document review and on-site assessment on the applications of testing institutions.

2Where the on-site assessment findsa deficiency, the testing institutions shall submit a corrective plan to the central competent authority for re-assessment after the end of on-site assessment within 60 days.

Where the application passes the assessment stated in Article 4, the central competent authority shall issue the accreditation certificate and make official announcement in acknowledgment thereof.

1The accreditation certificate shall contain the following information:

21. The title of the testing institution.

32. Thetitle and address of the laboratory, and the full name of the laboratory head.

43. Test items as accredited, test method, test scope, and the report signatory.

54. Year, month, day, and serial number of the accreditation certificate.

65. Validity period of the accreditation certificate.

7The testing institution shall display the accreditation certificate in a highly visible place of the premises.

1The accreditation certificate has a validity period of three years. An application for extension, when necessary, shall be filed between six and eight months preceding the date of expiration. The maximum period of an extension is three years.

2The provisions of Articles 4 to 6 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the document, information and procedures required for accreditation period extension application. The documents and information specified in all sections thereof, except for those listed in Paragraph 2 of Article 4, need not be included in the application provided that there is no change in the content since the previous application for accreditation or extension.

3If the application for extension filed during the period as specified in Paragraph 1 does not receive a decision of approval or dismissal from the central competent authority within the original accreditation validity period, the validity of the original accreditation is extended to the date of the decision.

1In the event of changes in any of the items enumerated under Subparagraphs 1 to 3 of Paragraph 1 of Article 8, the testing institution shall, within the following periods, submit an application for changes to the central competent authority:

21. Change of laboratory address: application shall be filed within 30 days of event.

32. Change of the basis of testing methods: application shall be filed within 90 days of event.

43. Change of test scope due to amendments of sanitation standards: application shall be filed within 90 days of the effective date.

54. Change of the title of the testing institution, the title of the laboratory, the name of the laboratory head or the report signatory: application shall be filed within 90 days of event.

6For the applications specified above, the central competent authority, when necessary, may conduct on-site review.

1Relocation based on the Subparagraph 1 of Paragraph 1 of the preceding Article shall be reported to the central competent authority in a relocation plan 15 days prior to the relocation.

2The plan mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall include the following items:

31. The time course of relocation.

42. The laboratory's new address and location map.

53. The test instrument list and the test facility configuration diagram.

Upon failure to perform the test as specified in the accreditation, the exclusive laboratory of the testing institution shall notify the central competent authority of the event within seven days from the date of the event; and the same applies when the function is resumed.

1A testing institution shall perform testing based on the quality manual as specified in Item (1) in Subparagraph 3 of Article 4 and the standard operating procedures for methods of testing as specified in Item (2) and shall comply with the following provisions:

21. Sign a written contract of test entrustment with the client when entrusted with a test, indicating the entrusted test items, test methods, test scope, status of accreditation of the entrusted test items, and other matters. For any changes to the entrustment, the content of and the reasons for the changes shall be stated in the contract of test entrustment and verified and recorded by both parties.

32. Accurately record the detailed informationof the client and the use purpose of the test report.

43. Accurately record the condition of sample(s) received, including the name,batch number, manufacturing date or expiry date, source, packaging, and quantity of the sample(s). No space or column shall be left blank; moreover, photographs of the sample(s) submitted for testing shall be kept on file.

54. The test report shall indicate the sample information, test item, testing method, test scope, and test results. All information shall be true and accurate.

65. Make clear statements or remarks where the report also contains results beyond the scope of accreditation (including test item, testing method, and test scope)

1The central competent authority shall regularly audit the equipment, personnel organization, quality management, operating procedures, testingcapacity, and test records of the accredited testing institutions and may require the testing institutions to submit reports of the testing procedures conducted within the accreditation scope. When necessary, the central competent authority may conductirregular audit.

2The central competent authority may require the testing institutions to take, at their own expenses, proficiency testing activities organized by the central competent authority, or administered by other proficiency testing providers as entrusted or recognized by the central competent authority.

3Testing institutions are not entitled to evade, obstruct, or refuse the audit procedure, report submission, and proficiency testing participation requirement prescribed in the foregoing two paragraphs.

Where the testing institution undergoing the proficiency testing required in the second paragraph of the preceding article fails to pass the proficiency assessment, it shall be obliged to institute corrective actionswithin 15 days following the date of acceptance of the test assessment notice; moreover, a corrective action report shall be submitted to the central competent authority. The testing institution shall be required to receive the follow-up proficiency testing as per date scheduled by the central competent authority.

In the event of a major unforeseen food related event, testing institutions receiving an emergency mobilization notification from the central competent authority shall be obliged to process the food testing within the prescribed deadline; thereafter, testing institutions shall submit complete sample information and testing results to the central competent authority.

1The severe circumstances prescribed in Article 48-1 of the Act on situations enumerated in Paragraph 2 of the same Article refer to one of the following:

21. Violation of the provisions of Paragraph 3 of Article 14 of no evading, obstructing, or refusing.

32. False information contained in test statistics, test reports or other documents and information submitted.

43. Other violations of the provisions of this set of regulations causing the central competent authority to deem the testing institution unsuitable for test administration.

1In any of the following circumstances of a testing institution, the central competent authority may suspend or abolish a part or all of the accredited test items:

21. After obtaining the accreditation according to this set of Regulations, the exclusive laboratory no longer exists or the laboratory does not meet the conditions set out in Article 3.

32. Violation of the provisions of Article 10, with no changes made or no changes made within the time limit.

43. Violation of the provisions of Article 11 or Article 12, with no report or notification submitted within the time limit.

54. Violation of the provisions of any one paragraph of Article 13.

65. Violation of the provisions of Article 15, by failing to submit a corrective action report within the time limit, failing to take the follow-up proficiency test, or failing to pass the test.

76. Closedown or discontinuation of the testing institution.

The central competent authority intending to outsource the accreditation work to a related body (institution), corporation, or group(hereafter referred as independent provider) pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph 2 of Article 37 of the Act shall process assignment through an open selection process.

1The independent provider shall meet the following requirements:

21. Possession of the experiences required for the accreditation of testing institutions and the necessary documents supporting said eligibility.

32. Employment of personnel meeting the following qualifications:

4(1) Graduates from food science, nutrition, medicine, chemistry, biology, or other related programs of a college, university or higher education institution, either a domestic one or a foreign one that meets the requirements in the Regulations Governing the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Academic Records by Institutions of Higher Education, with previous employment experience in the testing institution’s testing competence validation related work;

5(2) Having completed studies of at least 15 academic credits of legal subjects involving civil law, criminal law, and administrative laws and regulations in a domestic university, with a transcript of records reflecting said credits.

63. Fulfillment of all other requirements announced by the central competent authority.

1An independent provider shall have an established management system and the related operating procedures established in coordination with its accreditation procedures and produce an information manual; the information manual shall contain at least the following information:

21. organization chart;

32. document control;

43. records;

54. nonconformities and corrective actions;

65. preventive actions;

76. internal audit;

87. management review;

98. complaints.

10The aforementioned manual shall be reviewed regularly to ensure appropriateness with operations and updated or revised from time to time to suit actual operating conditions. The internal audit and management review procedures shall be conducted at least once a year.

1An independent provider shall ensure that the personnel implementing the accreditation procedures possess the necessary food testing related knowledge and proficiency; moreover, the independent provider shall keep a record of the initial and regular assessments conducted on said personnel.

2The personnel stated in the preceding paragraph shall attend at least 12hours of continued education and training course conducted by an institution (body) or civilian institution or group recognized by the central competent authority. Education or training curriculum shall include audit techniques, testing knowledge and skills, and related laws.

1Any information acquired by an independentproviderin the course of the accreditation process or any accreditation related information provided by the testing institution shall be retained on file for at least15 years; whereas records of accreditation work related documents and information shall be permanently retained on file.

2Upon the conclusion of the independent provider’s outsourcing service, the aforementioned documents and information retained on file shall be turned over to the central competent authority.

An independent provider shall be obliged to maintain the confidentiality of all information acquired in the course of implementing accreditation work, and shall refrain from disclosing said information.

An independent provider implementing an on-site assessment pursuant to Paragraph 1 of Article 6 shallsubmit the prepared assessment schedule to the central competent authority a week before the assessment date; on the other hand, the central competent authority may appoint a representative to attend the assessment. The independent providershall not evade, obstruct, or refuse such attendance.

An independent providershall inform the central competent authority of the accreditation results of every case processed; moreover, related documents and information shall be attached.

1The central competent authority may notify the independent provider of its requirement to submit operation-related documents and information and may conduct irregular audit procedures on the venue of operations of the independent provider.

2The independent provider shall not evade, obstruct, or refuse the foregoing notice, requirement or audit.

All documents and information provided to the central competent authority by the independent provider pursuant to the provisions of the Regulations shall be true and accurate.

1An independent provider and its personnel entrusted with the processing of accreditation work shall observe the “conflict of interest” regulations as dictated in the Administrative Procedure Law.

2An independent provider processing the work in the preceding paragraph shall not be engaged in behaviors in violation of the criminal law. Upon any suspicion of violation, the central competent authority shall bring the case to the related law enforcement organizations.

The central competent authority shall sign a work consignment contract with the independent provider. Contract shall clearly define matters and other details, related rights and obligations, breach of contract penalty and reasons, dispute processing, and factors for the revocation or temporary suspension of the consigned work and other information covered in the contract.

1The severe circumstances prescribed in Article 48-1 of the Act on situations enumerated in Paragraph 3 of the same Article refer to one of the following:

21. Violation of the provisions of Article 24.

32. Violation of the provisions of Article 25, by failing to notify the central competent authority within the time limit, or by evading, obstructing, or refusing the attendance in assessment by the central competent authority.

43. Violation of Paragraph 2 of Article 27.

54. Violation of the provisions of Article 28.

65. Violation of the provisions of Paragraph 1 of Article 29 on the “conflict of interest” regulations.

76. Any violation of the criminal law as provided in Paragraph 2 of Article 29.

These regulations shall be effective as of the date of promulgation.