The Hellenic Accreditation System (Εθνικό Σύστημα Διαπίστευσης – ESYD) is Greece’s national accreditation body, responsible for implementing and managing the country’s accreditation system. It operates under its current legal framework defined by Law 4468/2017, which formalized its structure and role as Greece’s national accreditation body..ESYD operates as a non-profit legal entity with administrative and financial autonomy under the supervision of the Ministry of Development and Investments. Its role is to assess and accredit conformity assessment bodies such as laboratories, inspection bodies, and certification bodies, ensuring they meet international standards and can reliably verify products, services, and systems.

ESYD is closely integrated into the global accreditation framework through its participation in key international organizations. It is a founding member of the European co-operation for Accreditation (EA) and a signatory to its Multilateral Agreements (MLAs) across multiple scopes, including testing, calibration, inspection, certification, greenhouse gas verification, and proficiency testing providers. It is also a full member of both the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), participating in their mutual recognition arrangements. These memberships ensure that accreditation granted by ESYD is recognized internationally, enabling Greek accredited services to operate across borders with confidence.

In practice, ESYD conducts thorough assessments of applicant organizations through teams of qualified assessors and technical experts, covering all stages from initial application to accreditation, surveillance, and renewal. Accreditation certificates are typically valid for five years, with ongoing oversight to ensure continued compliance. ESYD’s governance is centered on its Board of Directors (BoD), which holds overall responsibility for the operation of the system, supported by the National Accreditation Council, permanent staff, and a network of assessors and technical experts. A designated Quality Manager oversees the quality management system, ensuring it is implemented and maintained in line with international requirements, while also advising the BoD on performance and improvements. The organization relies on both internal staff and external experts, who are required to follow strict rules on independence, confidentiality, and avoidance of conflicts of interest to safeguard impartiality in accreditation decisions.

Additional information is available on the Hellenic Accreditation System official website.