CAI information on coronavirus-related measures

Updated 23/10/2020

Due to the current epidemic situation, the Czech Accreditation Institute, a public benefit corporation (CAI), in accordance with the applicable crisis measures, establishes the following assessment rules:

1. To assess compliance with accreditation requirements, the remote assessment technique in accordance with the ČSN EN ISO/IEC 17011:2018 standard is preferably used, using telephone, e-mail, data mailbox and software for online communication.
2. An on-site assessment can always be carried out with the consent of the conformity assessment body, primarily for the purpose of conducting witness audits and with the participation of the minimum necessary number of persons.
3. For already planned events, the assessment schedule and, if applicable, the schedule of regular surveillance visits may be adjusted in agreement with the conformity assessment body.
4. If a witness audit is necessary (initial assessment, extension of the scope of accreditation), CAI will, in cooperation with the conformity assessment body, seek options for conducting a witness audit.

Ing. Jiří Růžička, MBA, Ph.D.
director

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Updated 21/9/2020

Due to the very dynamically developing epidemiological situation, the Czech Accreditation Institute, a public benefit corporation (CAI), is introducing the following assessment rules:

1. From Tuesday, September 29, 2020, the remote assessment technique in accordance with ČSN EN ISO/IEC 17011:2018 will be used for assessment, using telephone, e-mail, data mailbox and software for online communication.
2. On-site assessment can always be carried out with the consent of the conformity assessment body, primarily for the purpose of conducting witness audits.
3. For already planned events, the assessment schedule and, if applicable, the schedule of regular surveillance visits may be adjusted in agreement with the conformity assessment body.
4. If a witness audit is necessary (initial assessment, extension of the scope of accreditation), CAI will, in cooperation with the conformity assessment body, seek options for conducting a witness audit.

Ing. Jiří Růžička, MBA, Ph.D.
director

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Updated 19/6/2020

In view of the favorable development of the epidemiological situation and the relaxation of hygienic anti-coronavirus measures in the Czech Republic, from July 1, 2020, the Czech Accreditation Institute, a public benefit corporation, is returning to the implementation of assessments to the state before March 16, 2020, with the proviso that remote assessments will be used only to a limited extent, if necessary.

The measure where, before the start of the on-site assessment, the entity declares in writing that none of its employees (and possibly also its customer's employees in the case of a witness audit) with whom the members of the CAI assessment team come into contact are showing symptoms of respiratory disease, are not ordered to quarantine, have not come into personal contact in the last 14 days with a person who has been ordered to quarantine or who is showing symptoms of respiratory disease, or have not stayed in an area with a high risk of transmission of COVID-19 in the last 14 days, remains in force.

It also remains valid that, before the start of the on-site assessment, each member of the CAI assessment team will submit a written declaration to the entity's representative to the same extent.

Ing. Jiří Růžička, MBA, Ph.D.
director

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Updated 26/5/2020

Following the end of the state of emergency and the lifting of emergency measures in May 2020, the Czech Accreditation Institute, a public benefit corporation, is gradually resuming on-site assessments. From 1 June 2020, remote assessment (point 7.6.1 MPA 00-01-20) will be used for assessments that can be effectively carried out in this way. In cases where this technique cannot be fully and appropriately used, it will be combined with on-site assessments, unless exceptional circumstances prevent this. If the epidemiological situation continues to develop favourably, a return to the implementation of accreditation in the same way as before the adoption of emergency measures can be expected, using remote assessments, which will be implemented where appropriate, while observing the necessary hygiene measures and in accordance with the emergency measures of the Ministry of Health.

Ing. Jiří Růžička, MBA, Ph.D.
director

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30. 4. 2020
Following the emergency measures of the Ministry of Health of March 10, 2020 and the crisis measures of the Government of the Czech Republic of March 15, 2020, the Czech Accreditation Institute, a public benefit corporation, is adjusting the remote assessment procedure (point 7.6.1 MPA 00-01-20) as follows:

1. From Monday, March 16, 2020 to May 31, 2020, instead of on-site assessment, remote assessment will be carried out in accordance with ČSN EN ISO/IEC 17011:2018 using telephone, e-mail, data mailbox and software for online communication;
2. the assessment will focus on assessing the management system documentation and documents sent by the conformity assessment body or documents confirming compliance with the criteria of the relevant harmonised standards and sectoral regulations;
3. the use of remote access will be documented in assessment reports;
4. if the assessment is carried out differently from the planned scope, the established plan of regular surveillance visits will be adjusted, in agreement with the conformity assessment body;
5. If a witness audit is necessary (initial assessment, extension of the scope of accreditation), CAI will, in cooperation with the conformity assessment body, seek options for conducting a witness audit.

Prague, March 16, 2020

Ing. Jiří Růžička, Ph.D., MBA
director

CAI information for remote assessment

Information on conducting accreditation from May 2020 in the context of COVID-19