ANAB Offers Global Accreditation for Gluten-Free Certification Program
(PRWEB) August 07, 2016 -- In response to the global interest in gluten-free foods, the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB) now offers accreditation for certification bodies providing audits and certification of management systems meeting the requirements of the Gluten-Free Certification Program (GFCP).
The GFCP is owned and administered by the Allergen Control Group (ACG) and endorsed by the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (Beyond Celiac) in the United States and the Canadian Celiac Association. It is intended for organizations that wish to verify that their preventative systems work and whose customers require an independent assessment of their commitment to implementing responsible practices related to managing gluten for people with gluten-related disorders such as celiac disease and non-autoimmune responses such as gluten intolerance. Launched in Canada in 2011, the GFCP now reaches 25 countries, more than 200 certified facilities, and more than 5,000 products displaying the GFCP trademark.
ANAB accreditation for the GFCP is based on ISO/IEC 17021-1, the international standard that specifies requirements with which management systems certification bodies must conform.
“By offering accreditation for the Gluten-Free Certification Program, ANAB provides oversight of certification bodies independent from the owner of the program requirements, in this case the Allergen Control Group,” Lori Gillespie, ANAB’s Vice President of Management Systems, said. “This enhances the credibility of the certification program and effectively contributes to the health and welfare of consumers who have a medical need for reliable gluten-free foods.”
Manufacturers certified to the GFCP through self-declaration are able to display the GFCP trademark on their products. The GFCP trademark indicates that a product was manufactured in a facility that has successfully undergone an annual independent third-party audit to verify the facility’s ability to meet GFCP requirements for managing production of gluten-free products. Consumers can rely on the GFCP trademark at the point of purchase to identify safe, reliable, and gluten-free products.
“ACG chose to pursue ANAB for its accreditation program to provide additional oversight for the delivery of our GFCP requirements, thus holding our certifying bodies accountable to ISO/IEC 17021-1 management system operating standards,” Paul Valder, President & CEO of the Allergen Control Group, said. “Recognition by ANAB sets the GFCP apart from all other gluten-free certification processes, and separates ACG’s role as the standard owner from the accreditation process, further providing impartiality, credibility, and value to the GFCP end user.”
Certification bodies can apply for ANAB accreditation but must continue to have their food auditors trained, screened, and approved by ACG. ANAB requirements for accreditation to certify organizations conforming to the GFCP can be found at http://anab.org/programs/isoiec-17021/.
The ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB) provides accreditation for ISO/IEC 17021 management systems certification bodies, ISO/IEC 17025 testing and calibration laboratories and forensic testing agencies, ISO/IEC 17020 inspection bodies and forensic inspection agencies, ISO Guide 34 reference material producers, ISO/IEC 17043 proficiency test providers, ISO 15189 medical test laboratories, and industry-specific programs. ANAB is a member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), and is a signatory of the ILAC and IAF multilateral recognition arrangements. Through these arrangements, ANAB cooperates with other accreditation bodies around the world to provide value to the organizations it has accredited and their clients, ensuring that accredited certificates and test results are recognized nationally and internationally. The global conformity assessment system ensures confidence and reduces risk for customers engaging in trade worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.anab.org.
The Allergen Control Group Inc. (ACG) is a privately held corporation that owns and operates the Gluten-Free Certification Program, which is endorsed exclusively by the NFCA (operating as Beyond Celiac) in the United States and the Canadian Celiac Association (CCA) in Canada. For more information, visit http://www.glutenfreecert.com.
Natalia Larrimer, ANAB, http://www.anab.org, +1 (703) 836-0025 Ext: 209, [email protected]
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