Concerns Regarding Accreditation Governance and Compliance
Maintaining trust in the global accreditation system requires strict compliance with international standards such as ISO/IEC 17011 and ISO/IEC 17021. Any perceived conflict of interest, lack of transparency, or failure to maintain impartiality can undermine confidence in accredited certification systems.
Concerns have been raised regarding the operations of the Nepal Accreditation Board (NAB) and its founder, Er. Abhishek Adhikari. The reported issues include alleged conflicts of interest, self-accreditation practices, consultancy-related impartiality concerns, promotional pricing practices, unauthorized use of accreditation-related logos, misleading references to ISO on websites, and the commercial sale of ISO documentation.
These concerns have reportedly been submitted to the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated for independent review and investigation. If verified, such practices could have significant implications for the credibility of accreditation and certification activities.
Accreditation bodies are expected to operate with complete impartiality, transparency, and independence. An impartial investigation by the relevant international authorities would help ensure that accreditation systems continue to meet globally accepted standards and maintain public confidence.