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DQS Accreditations

Why DQS accreditation?


Why it matters who certifies you.

A certificate is only as strong as the organization behind it. To ensure global acceptance and legal validity, your certification body must be independently accredited, authorized, and continuously monitored.

At DQS, all our certifications, assessments, and audits are based on formal approvals by national and international institutions. Whether your goal is regulatory compliance, market access, or enhanced stakeholder trust, these accreditations and authorizations are what make our certificates legally valid, globally accepted, and operationally relevant.

You benefit from:

  • Certificates issued under official accreditation from internationally recognized accreditation bodies around the world.
  • Independent assurance that DQS audits follow globally harmonized standards and impartial practices
  • Authorizations from scheme owners like VDA-QMC, ENX or UNIFE, etc.  to audit specialized programs ( e.g. IATF 16949, TISAX or IRIS, etc.)
  • Legally recognized assessments in the medical field, with DQS acting as a Notified Body under the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) .

Every one of these designations means that our processes are not only professional — but also officially approved, continuously monitored, and fit for high-stakes use cases.

For your organization, this translates to:

  • Certificates that are trusted by regulators, customers, and partners
  • Clear eligibility for public tenders and regulated markets
  • Confidence that your certification body meets the same standards you’re being evaluated against

In a world of rising complexity and accountability, official recognition is not a formality — it’s what ensures that your certification can withstand scrutiny, unlock market access, and build trust where it matters most.

Accreditation Bodies

  • ANAB (USA): The ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) is the largest U.S. accreditation body. It accredits certification bodies for ISO and sector-specific standards, ensuring reliable conformity assessments and fostering international market acceptance.

    Key Accreditations include:
    ISO 17021 (Conformity Assessment)
    ISO 9001 (Quality Management)
    ISO 14001 (Environmental Management)
    ISO 45001 (Occupational Health & Safety)
    ISO 13485 (Medical Devices)
  • CNAS (China): The China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS) is the sole national accreditation body of China. It oversees certification bodies, labs, and inspection entities, ensuring compliance with ISO standards and global recognition.

    Key Accreditations include:
    ISO 9001
    ISO 14001
  • SCC (Canada): The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) is Canada’s official accreditation body. It accredits organizations against ISO standards, promoting credible certifications and supporting Canadian businesses in gaining international trust and access to markets.

    Key Accreditations include:
    13485

MDSAP Authorization
DQS is recognized as an authorized Auditing Organization under the Medical Device Single Audit Program (MDSAP), enabling us to perform MDSAP audits in accordance with the program’s requirements.
Regulatory agencies participating in the MDSAP program: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan and United States of America

  • JAS-ANZ (Australia/New Zealand): The Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) accredits certification bodies globally, ensuring confidence in ISO and industry standards. It strengthens trade, safety, and environmental and quality outcomes.

    Key Accreditations include:
    ISO 9001
    ISO 14001
    ISO 45001
    HACCP
    Food
    …
  • INMETRO (Brazil): Brazil’s National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology (INMETRO) is the country’s accreditation authority. It accredits conformity assessment bodies, ensuring reliability, safety, and competitiveness of products and services.

    Key Accreditations include:
    ISO 9001
    ISO 14001
    …
  • ESYD (Greece): The Hellenic Accreditation System (ESYD) is Greece’s national accreditation body. It grants recognition to certification and inspection bodies, ensuring impartiality and international credibility across ISO, food, and environmental standards.

    Key Accreditations include:
    ISO 9001
    ISO 13485
    ISO 14001
    ISO 22000
    ISO 45001 
    EN 15224
  • NABCB (India): The National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB) is India’s accreditation authority. It provides accreditation for management systems certification, ensuring alignment with ISO standards and international acceptance.

    Key Accreditations include:
    ISO 9001
    ISO 13485
  • KAN (Indonesia): The National Accreditation Committee of Indonesia (KAN) accredits certification bodies, labs, and inspection agencies. It ensures reliable conformity assessments in line with ISO standards, strengthening trade and global recognition.

    Key Accreditations include:
    ISO 9001
    ISO 14001
  • JAB (Japan): The Japan Accreditation Board (JAB) is Japan’s national accreditation authority. It accredits certification and inspection bodies to ensure high-quality, internationally recognized conformity assessments for ISO management system standards.

    Key Accreditations include:
    ISO 9001
    ISO 13485
    ISO 14001
    ISO 27001 according to ISMS-AC (JIP-ISAC)
  • KAB (Korea): The Korea Accreditation Board (KAB) is Korea’s official accreditation authority for management system certification. It ensures conformity to ISO standards, promoting trust and acceptance of Korean-certified organizations internationally.

    Key Accreditations include:
    ISO 9001 (Quality Management)
  • ema (Mexico): The Entidad Mexicana de Acreditación (ema) is Mexico’s national accreditation body. It accredits certification and inspection bodies, ensuring competence and credibility in ISO certifications and supporting Mexican industry in global markets.

    Key Accreditations include:
    ISO 9001
  • Standards Malaysia (Malaysia): The Department of Standards Malaysia is the country’s sole national accreditation body. It accredits CBs for ISO and local schemes such as MSPO, ensuring reliable certification and recognition of Malaysian businesses abroad.

    Key Accreditations include:
    ISO 9001
    ISO 13485
    ISO 14001
    MSPO 
  • PCA (Poland): The Polish Centre for Accreditation (PCA) is Poland’s national authority for accreditation. It accredits conformity assessment bodies for ISO and sector-specific standards, enhancing reliability, consumer protection, and international trade.

    Key Accreditations include:
    ISO 9001
    ISO 14001
    ISO 15378 
    IFS
    Organic farming in Poland and third countries in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 
  • TAF (Taiwan): The Taiwan Accreditation Foundation (TAF) accredits certification, testing, and inspection bodies. It ensures alignment with ISO and IEC standards, enabling Taiwanese organizations to compete internationally with trusted certifications.

    Key Accreditations include:
    ISO 9001
    ISO 45001
    QC080000
  • SANAS (South Africa): The South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) is the only national accreditation body. It accredits certification and inspection bodies, promoting competence, safety, and global recognition of South African certifications.

    Key Accreditations include:
    SANS 10330:2020 (HACCP)
    ISO 13485

Scheme Owners

  • VDA-QMC (Germany): The Quality Management Center of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA-QMC) coordinates German involvement in automotive quality standards. It supports IATF 16949 and drives continuous improvement in the sector.

    Key Accreditations include:
    IATF 16949
  • ENX (Germany/EU): ENX Association manages TISAX, the trusted information security assessment exchange for the automotive sector. It ensures uniform and recognized standards for data protection, fostering secure collaboration across global supply chains.

    Key Accreditations include:
    TISAX
  • IRIS / UNIFE (Union des Industries Ferroviaires Européennes) is the European Rail Supply Industry Association, representing companies that design, manufacture, maintain, and refurbish rail transport systems, components, and equipment at EU and international levels, advocating for sustainable mobility and innovation within the sector. Based in Brussels, it works with EU institutions, standards bodies, and research organizations, promoting market growth and policies for Europe's leading rail suppliers. 

    Key Accreditations include:
    ISO/TS 22163

ICoCA (International Code of Conduct Association) in South Africa, a global body promoting responsible private security, actively engaging South Africa's huge security market (the 3rd largest globally) via events like Securex, partnering with entities like SASA, PSiRA, and the Centre for Human Rights to embed ethical practices, human rights, and technology governance within the industry. 

Regulatory Authorities

  • FDA (USA): The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates food, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. As an MDSAP member, it works with international regulators to harmonize medical device oversight and strengthen patient safety worldwide.

    Key Accreditations include:
    MDSAP
  • TGA (Australia): The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is Australia’s authority for therapeutic goods, including medicines and medical devices. As part of MDSAP, it helps align international regulatory practices, ensuring product safety and efficacy.

    Key Accreditations include:
    MDSAP
  • ANVISA (Brazil): Brazil’s Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (ANVISA) regulates health-related products and services. Within MDSAP, it oversees medical device conformity, ensuring safety and supporting Brazil’s integration in international markets.

    Key Accreditations include:
    MDSAP
  • Health Canada (Canada): Health Canada is the country’s federal department for health regulation. In MDSAP, it ensures medical device manufacturers meet international quality requirements, safeguarding patient safety and facilitating market access.

    Key Accreditations include:
    MDSAP
  • MHLW/PMDA (Japan): Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) and the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) regulate medical devices and pharmaceuticals. As MDSAP participants, they ensure global alignment in device safety oversight.

    Key Accreditations include:
    MDSAP
  • ZLG (Germany): The Zentralstelle der Länder für Gesundheitsschutz (ZLG) coordinates Germany’s notification under the EU Medical Device Regulation. It supervises notified bodies, ensuring compliance with MDR/IVDR and high standards in medical device safety.

    Key Accreditations include:
    MDR
  • SANAS (South Africa): The South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) is the only national accreditation body. It accredits certification and inspection bodies, promoting competence, safety, and global recognition of South African certifications.

    Key Accreditations include:
    SANS 10330:2020 (HACCP)
    ISO 13485

Notified Body

  • Notified Body (Medical Devices - NANDO): Our subsidiary, DQS Medizinprodukte GmbH, is designated as a Notified Body by the European Commission's NANDO database (Notified Body number 0297) for medical device regulations. This designation authorizes us to conduct conformity assessments for medical devices according to European regulations, ensuring they meet the highest safety and quality standards for market access.

    Key Designations include:
    Regulation (EU) 2017/745 on medical devices (MDR)
    ISO 13485 (Quality Management for Medical Devices)

Certification Network

  • IQNet (The International Certification Network): As a founding member, DQS is part of the IQNet network, an international network of leading certification bodies. This partnership allows us to offer globally recognized certificates and provide seamless international certification projects for our clients.

VAZ e.V. (Association of Accredited Certification Bodies e.V.) has been the new program owner of the German SCC Rulebook since September 2021.

Independent Association of Accredited Registrars (IAAR) promotes accredited management system certification through its member-driven association that represents and advances accredited third-party systems certification and enhances credibility for all interested parties.

The NQSZ  advocates for the introduction of German standards in its areas of expertise in the relevant areas of life.

Committee involvement by Matthias Pärsch, Christiana Rambow-Krummeck, Christian Hammer, Nico Büchs, Eva-Maria Weber, and others