Exporters are encouraged to avail of a government program providing testing and calibration services offered by both local and international laboratories as they ensure that test results are recognized by foreign buyers.
In a recent working group meeting, Department of Trade and Industry-Philippine Accreditation Bureau (DTI PAB) Assistant Director Ernani Dionisio cited the One-stop Laboratory Services for Global Competitiveness (OneLab) program of the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST).
Dionisio said once the required test is not available locally, OneLab can refer to an accredited member laboratory in the network located abroad to conduct the test.
OneLab has a network of laboratories that conducts various tests in areas such as chemical, microbiology, food, cosmetics, metals, adhesives, pesticides, furniture, cement, construction, dried raw seaweeds, halal, alkaloids, plastic, tiles, fertilizer, paints, plants, rubber, wood, water marine products, shelf life, electrical, dairy, wastewater, calibration, textile and fabrics, among others.
OneLab services are offered by both local and international laboratories from Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Australia.
Dionisio said members of the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (PHILEXPORT) can also refer to the list of accredited testing laboratories in the DTI PAB website http://www.pabaccreditation.dti.gov.ph/public/public_test.php.
PAB provides accreditation to certification bodies, inspection bodies, testing and calibration laboratories based on ISO standards, international requirements and PAB accreditation criteria.
It operates accreditation schemes in accordance with ISO/IEC 17011.
PAB is signatory to International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation and Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation mutual recognition arrangements (MRA), and International Accreditation Forum and Pacific Accreditation Cooperation multilateral recognition
arrangements (MLA).
MRA and MLA allow accreditation bodies like PAB to recognize the equivalence of accreditations performed by other signatories.