La National Accreditation Entity (ENAC) announced the results of its Activity Report 2024, highlighting a 2% growth in the Spanish accreditation system. This increase positions Spain with more than 2.400 accreditations at the end of last year, covering a wide range of economic sectors and consolidating its conformity assessment infrastructure.
During the ENAC General Assembly, Jose Manuel Prieto, president of the organization, emphasized the importance of quality infrastructure and, in particular, accreditation. Prieto described it as a "fundamental tool for markets, fostering a reliable framework for action, which translates into improved efficiency and competitiveness for companies." This statement highlights how the trust generated by accreditation translates directly into tangible benefits for the business sector.
Beatriz RiveraThe Director General of ENAC, detailed the scope of these accreditations, which include 940 testing laboratories, 158 calibration laboratories, 92 clinical laboratories and diagnostic services, 454 inspection bodies, and 262 certification bodies. Growth was notable in almost all sectors of the economy, with sectors such as ICT, cybersecurity, sustainability, energy efficiency, and the circular economy showing outstanding performance. Rivera highlighted the 18% growth in diagnostic services accreditation activity, which “demonstrates the growing support of the healthcare sector for accreditation as a means for both its professionals and the organizations to which they belong to have access to services of the highest technical rigor.” She also mentioned the implementation of new accreditations for verifying the energy-saving certificate system and the principle of not causing significant harm to the environment (DNSH), activities that experienced a 54% increase.
Accreditation as an Ally of the Regulator
In the regulatory sphere, Prieto highlighted the ongoing integration of accreditation into regulations, with "more than 350 European and national legislative provisions incorporating accreditation requirements." This, according to Prieto, "provides security and confidence in the proper implementation of public policies and supports administrative simplification processes, making it a very valuable tool for public administrations."
ENAC maintains an active collaboration with various public administrations, including ministries such as Industry and Tourism, Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, Consumption or Defense, as well as regional governments and key organizations such as the State Railway Safety Agency or the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health ProductsThis cooperation seeks to develop and implement new accreditation schemes that adapt to the country's changing needs. At the European level, ENAC actively participates in the development of legislative frameworks such as the European Cybersecurity Scheme and the Green Claims Directive.
Global Recognition and Free Circulation
On an international level, Beatriz Rivera He reiterated the importance of ENAC accreditation in facilitating the free movement of goods and reducing technical barriers to trade. Thanks to ENAC's participation in multilateral accreditation recognition agreements, the reports and certificates issued by accredited entities in Spain are recognized in more than 120 countries, greatly facilitating Spanish companies' access to foreign markets.
In 2024, both the European Commission and the World Trade Organization (WTO) Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee reaffirmed their confidence in accreditation. Kerstin Jorna, Director-General for the Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs at the European Commission, highlighted “the crucial role of accreditation in the effective implementation of EU policies and legislation” and the need to continue investing in the European accreditation system. For its part, the WTO underscored accreditation as an essential mechanism for reducing market constraints and promoting the free movement of products and services globally.
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