CNAS

The China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS) is the national accreditation body of the People's Republic of China. It is responsible for accrediting conformity assessment bodies — testing and calibration laboratories, inspection bodies, certification bodies for management systems, products, personnel, and validation/verification bodies — against international standards such as ISO/IEC 17025, ISO/IEC 17020, ISO/IEC 17021, and ISO/IEC 17065. CNAS operates under the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and is recognized as the sole national accreditation body in China. CNAS was established in 2006 through the merger of the China National Accreditation Board for Laboratories (CNAL) and the China National Accreditation Board for Certifiers (CNAB). Its creation consolidated China's previously fragmented accreditation system into a single authoritative body, aligning domestic accreditation practice with international norms and facilitating mutual recognition of Chinese conformity assessment results abroad. CNAS is a member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), and is a signatory to their multilateral recognition arrangements (MRAs). Through these arrangements, accreditation granted by CNAS is recognized by counterpart bodies in other economies, reducing the need for duplicate testing and certification for Chinese exports. CNAS also participates in regional bodies such as the Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC). CNAS serves a broad range of stakeholders: laboratories, inspection agencies, certification bodies, government regulators, industry, and consumers. Its accreditation underpins the credibility of test reports, calibration certificates, inspection results, and management system certificates issued in China. The organization publishes accreditation criteria, rules, and guidance documents, maintains a public register of accredited bodies, and conducts assessments and surveillance to ensure ongoing compliance. As a state-owned public institution, CNAS does not sell products directly to consumers; its 'offering' is accreditation services and the associated trust infrastructure for quality and safety. It is central to China's quality infrastructure, alongside standardization (SAC), metrology (SAMR/AQSIQ legacy), and market supervision. Its work supports regulatory enforcement, international trade, and consumer protection.

CNAS was established in 2006 by merging the China National Accreditation Board for Laboratories (CNAL) and the China National Accreditation Board for Certifiers (CNAB). Before this merger, China's accreditation activities were split among several bodies, which created inefficiencies and confusion for domestic and international stakeholders. The consolidation created a single national accreditation body responsible for all types of conformity assessment bodies. Following its establishment, CNAS aligned its accreditation criteria with international standards and sought recognition from international organizations. It became a member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), and signed their multilateral recognition arrangements. These arrangements allow test reports, calibration certificates, inspection reports, and certification documents issued by CNAS-accredited bodies to be accepted by counterpart bodies in other economies. CNAS operates under the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), which oversees market regulation, quality supervision, and conformity assessment in China. The organization develops and publishes accreditation rules, criteria, and guidance documents; conducts assessments of applicant bodies; and performs surveillance to ensure continued compliance. It maintains a public database of accredited laboratories, inspection bodies, and certification bodies. Over the years, CNAS has expanded its scope to cover emerging areas such as validation and verification of environmental information, energy management systems, information security, and food safety. It also cooperates with regional accreditation bodies through the Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC). CNAS plays a key role in China's quality infrastructure by providing the accreditation layer that underpins the credibility of conformity assessment results. Its work supports regulatory enforcement, international trade, and consumer protection.

• 2006

  CNAS established by merging CNAL and CNAB.

• Joined ILAC and IAF and signed their multilateral recognition arrangements.

• Laboratory accreditation (ISO/IEC 17025)

  Accreditation of testing and calibration laboratories.

• Inspection body accreditation (ISO/IEC 17020)

  Accreditation of inspection bodies.

• Certification body accreditation (ISO/IEC 17021, ISO/IEC 17065, ISO/IEC 17024)

  Accreditation of management system, product, and personnel certification bodies.

1. 1CNAS official websitecnas.org.cn