Creation and Status of Eurolab

EUROLAB was created in Brussels on April 27, 1990 on the basis of a memorandum of understanding, signed by delegations representing the private and public laboratories of 17 out of the 19 countries of the EEC and EFTA.

EUROLAB is since October 1998 a legal entity in the form of an international association under Belgian law (A.I.S.B.L. - Association Internationale Scientifique sans But Lucratif) setting it as the European Federation of National Associations of Measurement, Testing and Analytical Laboratories.

Objectives

• Representation by formulating and voicing the opinion of European laboratories regarding political and technical issues having a direct impact on their activity, both on the European scene and worldwide.
• Coordination by interfacing with all European organisations having activities of interest to the laboratory community, and striving to avoid duplication of efforts and activities.
• Action by providing adequate means for exchange of information and experience, such as the publication of our Position Papers, Technical Reports, Newsletter, Seminars, and Working Groups etc.
• Promoting cost-effective testing, calibration and measurement services, for which the accuracy and quality assurance requirements should be adjusted to actual needs.

Mid-term Policy

EUROLAB´s mid-term policy is aiming to:

• support EUROLAB members´ interests – interfacing with accreditors – and to help them in technical, regulatory and quality management matters, aiming at simplification and international harmonisation of regulations concerning competence and performance of laboratories
• be the major EUROPEAN multisectorial forum for laboratory and conformity assessment services, making product certification and technical evaluation more visible in EUROLAB,
• become a major EUROPEAN focus point for laboratory intercomparisons and proficiency testing,
• act as important partner of the EC, EFTA and the standardisation institutes, participating in international organisations such as EA, ILAC and developing links with other relevant communities world-wide,
• use the EUROLAB network for public relations, and the provision of EUROLAB members expertise to customers for the benefit of economy and society.