Health Canada awards NSAI first European accreditation

The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) has become the first European body to receive accreditation as a quality management system (QMS) registration body, by the official medicine licensing body in Canada.

The accreditation program for Quality Systems verifies and recognises a registration body's competence to conduct ISO 9000 registrations.

It also provides assurance that it is capable of delivering services of a consistent quality.

Health Canada legally requires all manufacturers of medical devices to obtain a QMS certification.

The Minister for Trade & Commerce, Mr Michael Ahern, said: "Irish manufacturers of medical devices will now be able to obtain conformity assessment from the NSAI and therefore gain or maintain access to the Canadian market."

The NSAI have also appointed Ms Deirdre Ní Bhroin to the role of Operations Manager, Client Services (Medical Devices/Food/Agriculture).