The National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia (NATA) is the national organisation for accreditation of technical operations such as laboratories, inspection bodies, proficiency testing scheme providers and reference material producers.

The accreditation process is based on peer-review, whereby assessments of laboratories and other science-based facilities are conducted by experts in their specialist fields. To maintain accreditation, facilities must be re-assessed regularly.

Around 3,000 technical experts team with NATA staff members to perform assessments and also sit on NATA’s various technical committees that provide guidelines for accreditations. 

NATA is a key part of Australia’s technical infrastructure which is responsible for setting standards, ensuring conformance, and assessing competence. Our role serves the national and public interest by ensuring that member facilities are competent to provide consistently reliable testing, calibration, measurement and inspection data to government, industry and the wider community.

NATA’s expert independent third-party assessments help our customers identify and manage risk, increase community confidence and trust, and facilitate trade.

In short, NATA is the authority that assesses the technical competence of our member facilities. It also provides confidence to the customers of our member facilities that their services and products are reliable and consistent.

The Commonwealth Government recognises NATA as the sole national accreditation body for establishing and maintaining competent laboratory practice.

NATA also represents Australia in the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC) and on the OECD Working Group on Good Laboratory Practice.

www.nata.com.au