In 2016, the Czech Accreditation Institute (CAI) is celebrating the 25th anniversary of accreditation in the Czech Republic.

Picture: Mr. Jiri Ruzicka, Director of CAI.

The festivities culminated in a celebratory seminar held on 18 March 2016 by CAI in partnership with members of the Czech Senate, and attended by a number of esteemed guests including representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Significant representatives of public and private authorities operating in the accreditation system as well as renowned experts in its various sectors attended the event and gave speeches focusing on the use of accreditation in their respective fields.

The opening speech was given by Senator Veronika Vrecionova, Vice-Chairman of the Committee on National Economy, Agriculture and Transport, who emphasized the importance and benefits of accreditation as an instrument for ensuring conformity assessment and the bodies’ professional competence. Her speech was followed by some words by the guest of honour, the EA Executive Secretary, Andreas Steinhorst, who focused on CAI’s membership in EA; he commended the competence of CAI and the wide range of accreditation it provides, while thanking CAI for its participation in EA peer-evaluations by providing peer-evaluators and its involvement in other EA activities. As a matter of fact, CAI hosted the EA Laboratory Committee in the previous two days and held a meeting between EA and EURAMET just a few hours before the start of the celebratory seminar.

As a highlight of the seminar, seven outstanding figures of the Czech accreditation system received awards for their extraordinary contribution to the creation and development of the Czech accreditation system. The award-giving ceremony was followed by a musical entertainment by the Clarinet Quartet of the Prague State Opera and a toast to the future of accreditation. Then the festivities continued informally in the historical lounges of the Waldstein Palace.

CAI is happy to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of accreditation in the Czech Republic as a proud member of EA. CAI toasts to the next quarter-century when it will be continuing to deliver accreditation as a top-quality service and be a most valuable member of the international accreditation community.

Katerina Flidrova
CAI Lawyer