Norwegian Accreditation (Norsk akkreditering, NA) is Norway’s national accreditation body, responsible for accrediting conformity assessment bodies in support of safe products and services and international market access. Established by the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries in line with EU Regulation 765/2008, it operates as a government agency within Norway’s public administration and serves as Norway’s single national accreditation body within the European Economic Area (EEA)framework. Norwegian Accreditation assesses public and private bodies against international requirements for competence, management systems, work methods, and service quality, covering laboratories, inspection bodies, certification and verification bodies, proficiency testing providers, biobanks, and producers of reference materials. Through this role, it strengthens confidence in goods and services on the Norwegian market and supports the removal of technical barriers to trade by enabling international acceptance of Norwegian conformity assessment results.

International cooperation is a core part of Norwegian Accreditation’s mandate. As the appointed national accreditation body, it is an active member of European Accreditation (EA) and a signatory to EA’s multilateral recognition agreements, which ensure mutual acceptance of accredited services across Europe. It is also a member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), and a signatory to their global multilateral recognition arrangements. These memberships ensure that reports and certificates issued by Norwegian-accredited bodies are recognized internationally. Norwegian Accreditation is periodically evaluated through peer evaluations coordinated by EA and through reviews by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for its responsibilities related to Good Laboratory Practice.

In addition to accreditation, Norwegian Accreditation has specific regulatory responsibilities. It carries out inspections under the OECD principles for Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and is responsible for accrediting environmental verifiers under the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS). The organization operates on a non-discriminatory basis, with accreditation services open to all eligible bodies established in Norway that meet the applicable requirements. Its activities are financed through a combination of service fees set by the responsible ministry and state budget support for international participation, scheme development, and public information. Norwegian Accreditation’s strategic direction emphasizes competence, clear communication, reliability, international recognition, effective services, and support for the green transition. For more information, please visit its official website.