Sectorial Effects of Changes in the Accreditation Standards for Agricultural Product Certification Organizations

In this study the effects of the new standard ISO/IEC 17065: 2012 Conformity Assessmen–Requirements for Bodies Certifying Products, Processes and Services which has replaced the ISO/IEC Guide 65: 1996 General Requirements for Bodies Operating Product Certification Systems and General Requirements for Bodies Operating Product Certification Systems on the Product Certification Organizations are evaluated. In addition; the survey studies were conducted to investigate the adaptation and transition period of ISO 17065: 2012 on product certification organizations which were accreditted by Turkish Accreditation Body according to agricultural certification programmes. According to survey studies results; organizational structures, sectorial experience, personnel structures, professional experience, duration of accreditation, preparation of transition, training needs and the problems faced by these organizations replied to survey studies were analysed.