scope:

This document provides both general requirements and specific requirements (Annex A) for laboratories seeking to become "Authorized Laboratories (ALs)" and to maintain their Authorized Laboratory status for the issue of optical reference transfer standards of level 3. This document follows the requirements and adopts the format of ISO/IEC 17025, with the aims of:

a) establishing and maintaining international optical reference transfer standards of level 2 (IR2) traceable to an international optical reference primary standard of level 1 (IR1) maintained by a standardizing laboratory;

b) distributing traceability required to achieve inter-laboratory agreement in the results of test methods specified in International Standards for optical properties of paper, board or pulp;

c) participating in the design and development of new methods and international harmonization of procedures.

When a laboratory does not undertake one or more of the activities covered by this document, such as sampling and the design/development of new methods, the requirements of those clauses do not apply.

This document is for use by specified laboratories authorized to issue optical reference transfer standards in developing their management system for quality, administrative and technical operations. Laboratory customers, regulatory authorities and accreditation bodies can also use it in confirming or recognizing the competence of laboratories.

NOTE It might be necessary to explain or interpret certain requirements in this document to ensure that the requirements are applied in a consistent manner. Guidance for consistent application can be obtained from Technical Committee ISO/TC 6.