Department of Standards Malaysia

Standards

1. What are standards?
2. Where can I buy Malaysian Standards (MS)?
3. What is the ISO?
4. What is the Malaysian Standard?
5. What are the guiding principles in Malaysian Standards development?
6. What are categories of Malaysian Standards?
7. How Malaysian Standards benefits us?
8. What are the Industry Standards Committees (ISCs)?
9. What are the technical committees (TCS)?
10. What are the standards writing organizations (SWos)?
11. Do you want to know about Good Regulatory Practice (GRP)?

1. What are standards?

"A document approved by a recognized body, that provides, for common and repeated use, rules, guidelines or characteristics for products or related processes and production methods, with which compliance is not mandatory; and which may also include or deal exclusively with terminology, symbols, packaging, marking or labelling requirements as they apply to a product, process or production method.”
-Standards of Malaysia Act 1996 (Act 549)

2. Where can I buy Malaysian Standards (MS)?

MS and ISO Standard can be bought at SIRIM Library.

or

STANDARDS MALAYSIA Library

3. What is the ISO?

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a worldwide federation of national standard bodies from some 130 countries, one from each country.

ISO is a non-governmental organization established in 1947. The mission of ISO is to promote the development of standardization and related activities in the world with a view to facilitating the international exchange if goods and services, and to developing cooperation in the spheres of intellectual, scientific, technological and economic activity.

ISO�s work results in international agreements which are published as International Standards.

4. What is the Malaysian Standard?

Malaysian Standard (MS) is a consensus document developed by Standards Development  Committee (SDCs) within the Malaysian Standards Development System and approved by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation in accordance with Standards of Malaysia Act 1996 (Act 549).

A MS is a technical document that specifies the minimum requirements of quality and safety for voluntary use by the public.  A standard becomes mandatory when a regulatory agency enforces its use through the relevant Act and Regulations.

The policy in developing MS is to adopt international standards wherever appropriate.

5. What are the guiding principles in Malaysian Standards development?

The ISO/IEC Guide 59 � Code of Good Practice for Standardization and Annex 3 to the WTO/TBT Agreement act as guiding principles in the development of Malaysian Standards.

6. What are categories of Malaysian Standards?

7. How Malaysian Standards benefits us?

Reference to Malaysian Standards brings immense benefits to all stakeholders in achieving:

Consumer protection and public welfare

8. What are the Industry Standards Committees (ISCs)?

ISCs are established by the JKS to oversee and coordinate the standards development process within their respective scopes as endorsed by JKS.  There are currently 17 ISCs in various field of standardization as per figure 1.  The committees which are managed by SIRIM Berhad also responsible for approving the draft of Malaysian standards so prepared and recommend to the STANDARDS MALAYSIA for final approval as Malaysian Standards by the Minister.

The ISCs may establish Technical committees and Working Groups for the purpose of developing Malaysian Standards.  On top of that, ISCs shall identify the current needs and recommend priorities of national standardization within its scope and approve the annual programme for standards development.

In the area of international standardization, the ISCs may identify and recommend to the STANDARDS MALAYSIA delegate/s to be sponsored for attending the international meeting where necessary.

9. What are the technical committees (TCS)?

The TCs which are established by the ISCs are responsible for developing, preparing and reviewing Malaysian Standards for general and specific scope.  TCs also responsible to approve release of draft Malaysian Standard for the purpose of soliciting public comments and reviewing the comment received.

The TCs shall be responsible for supporting its parent ISC by studying and commenting and/or voting on the relevant draft international standards.

The TCs may establish working group for the purpose of undertaking specific tasks.

10. What are the standards writing organizations (SWos)?

Cabinet in 1991 has approved the strategy to expedite the pace of the development of Malaysian Standard to achieve 6000 standards by the year 2010 by appointing specialized bodies to develop standards within their expertise.

The bodies which are called SWOs are appointed by SIRIM Berhad to undertake standards development work.  The draft standards produced by SWOs can be directly submitted to ISC for approval provided that that particular SWO develop standards through balanced committees and the committees have released the draft for public comment and review the comments received.

For SWOs that develop standards without having a balance committees, draft standards produced by such SWOs have to be submitted to TCs for subsequent processes.

Accreditation

1. What is a CAB?
2. What’s the difference between Accreditation and Certification?
3. How is Accreditation and Certification linked?
4. How do I obtain accreditation?
5. What are the benefits of Accreditation?
6. What is The ACB Scheme?
7. What is ISO 9001?
8. How do I obtain certification e.g. ISO 9001?
9. How many ISO 9001 certificates are there in the market ?
10. What are the steps that are involved in accreditation ?
11. What are the costs involved in accreditation ?  

What is a CAB?

A CAB (Conformity Assessment Body) is a body that performs conformity assessment services and that can be the object of accreditation

Source : ISO/IEC 17011:2004

Example : Certification body, inspection body and testing & calibration laboratory.

What’s the difference between Accreditation and Certification?

Accreditation and Certification have very specific meanings although it is commonly used interchangeably. In layman’s terms accreditation can be described as “certifying the certifiers”. 

Conformity assessment bodies (CABs), such as Certification Bodies, are accredited after they successfully undergo a process of assessment by an accreditation body like STANDARDS MALAYSIA, to ensure they meet international standards. Among other things, the assessment covers the certification bodies impartiality and competence to run its activity.

Certification is undertaken by the CAB and is a process by which an independent and competent third party certifies that a product, system or person,  conforms to specific requirements. 

How is Accreditation and Certification linked?

How do I obtain accreditation?

Application forms for various accreditation programmes are available in the STANDARDS MALAYSIA website.

Assessments for accreditation will be pursued once completed application forms and application fees are received.

What are the benefits of Accreditation?

What is The ACB Scheme?

This scheme offers accreditation to any certification body, governmental or privately owned, that has demonstrated compliance with published criteria and requirements of the Department of Standards Malaysia. The ACB scheme offers accreditation to certification bodies operating programmes such as quality management systems, environmental management systems, product certification etc.

What is ISO 9001?

ISO 9001:2008 is the standard that provides a set of standardised requirements for a quality management system, regardless of what the user organization does, its size, or whether it is in the private, or public sector. The ISO 9001:2008 standard provides a tried and tested framework for taking a systematic approach to managing the organisation's processes so that they consistently turn out product that satisfies customers' expectations.
Source : www.iso.org
   

How do I obtain certification e.g. ISO 9001?

Kindly contact STANDARDS MALAYSIA’s accredited certification bodies as listed in the website under the Directory of Accredited Certification Bodies to benefit and enjoy reliable and credible services.

How many ISO 9001 certificates are there in the market ?

Kindly refer to the “Latest Figure on ACB” in our website to obtain information on accredited certification in Malaysia. Please take note that the number of certificates as indicated in the website are from STANDARDS MALAYSIA accredited certification bodies only. This table is updated every quarter.

There are many unaccredited ISO 9001 certificates as well as ISO 9001 certificates under the accreditation of foreign accreditation bodies in the market besides the above.

What are the steps that are involved in accreditation ?

·    Application
·    Documentation review    
·    Compliance assessment (office review and witness audit)   
·    Recommendation by an impartial  Accreditation Review Panel
·    Granting of accreditation, if successful

What are the costs involved in accreditation ?

 Current basic fees are as follows :-
1.    Application fee RM 5,000
2.    Annual fee RM 5,000
Other fees can be obtained from “ACB Accreditation Charges” as in the website.

Skim Akreditasi Makmal Malaysia (SAMM)

1. Which Report Gives You More Confidence In Its Validity?
2. Why?
3. What do I get from a SAMM - endorsed test report?
4. What is a SAMM Accredited Laboratory?
5. How do I give my comments/feedback to the Department?

Which Report Gives You More Confidence In Its Validity?

Confidence - the assurance that your expectations will be met. Using the services of a SAMM accredited laboratory gives you that confidence in the test data it provides you.

Why?

• Because SAMM accreditation signifies two things to you, the client;   
• the laboratory has the ability and competence to do specific tests, measurement or calibrations   
• the laboratory undergoes regular independent audits to help ensure it is providing the best possible service to you
• Endorsements on Your Test ReportsThis laboratory is accredited by SAMM (Laboratory Accreditation Scheme of Malaysia).
  

The tests reported have been performed in accordance with its terms of accreditation

This laboratory is accredited by SAMM (Laboratory Accreditation Scheme of Malaysia). The Calibration data reported have been performed in accordance with its terms of accreditation

What do I get from a SAMM - endorsed test report?

• the validity of test or measurement date
• the laboratory has been independently audited for technical competence
• the test was done in accordance with the stated specifications, test or calibration method and correct test environment
• the test item was handled and stored properly
• the equipment used in the test was calibrated correctly and maintained according to schedule
• the correct sampling procedure was used
• the test report accurately describes the test results
• the appropriate quality control was performed
  

What is a SAMM Accredited Laboratory?

• The laboratory must be able to demonstrate
• competence to perform specific tests, measurements or calibrations
• competence to perform specific tests, measurements or calibrations   
• sound laboratory management   
• suitable qualified and trained staff  
• proper equipment management, and adherence to calibration and maintenance programs  
• accurate and complete record keeping   
• adequate quality control and quality assurance procedures   
• adherence to internal audit program 
• appropriate facilities for the handling, storage and testing of samples
  
• assurance on essential consumable and outside support services  
• not just an interest, but a commitment to doing things right
  

Only after all these criteria are met does a laboratory become SAMM accredited. But this is not the end of the process. To remain SAMM accredited, the laboratory must be able to demonstrate continued compliance with the above criteria every time SAMM assesses its testing operation.

It is this initial and on-going evaluation of laboratory by SAMM that gives you confidence in its quality of service and in the validity of test data.

How do I give my comments/feedback to the Department?

Send the completed form to : (LA 801 Form )

Director General
Department of Standards Malaysia
Century Square
Level 1 & 2, Block 2300, Jalan Usahawan
63000 Cyberjaya

Selangor
(Attn: Director of Accreditation)

Tel:  603-8318 0002
Fax: 603-8318 9339
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