ANNEX VU.K.EC DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY(Production quality assurance)

3.Quality systemU.K.

3.1.The manufacturer must lodge an application for assessment of his quality system with a notified body.U.K.

The application must include:

3.2.Application of the quality system must ensure that the products conform to the type described in the EC type-examination certificate.U.K.

All the elements, requirements and provisions adopted by the manufacturer for his quality system must be documented in a systematic and orderly manner in the form of written policy statements and procedures. This quality system documentation must permit uniform interpretation of the quality policy and procedures such as quality programmes, plans, manuals and records.

It must include in particular an adequate description of:

(a)

the manufacturer's quality objectives;

(b)

the organization of the business and in particular:

  • the organizational structures, the responsibilities of the managerial staff and their organizational authority where manufacture of the products is concerned,

  • the methods of monitoring the efficient operation of the quality system and in particular its ability to achieve the desired quality of product, including control of products which fail to conform[F1,]

  • [F2where the manufacture and/or final inspection and testing of the products, or elements thereof, are carried out by a third party, the methods of monitoring the efficient operation of the quality system and in particular the type and extent of control applied to the third party;]

(c)

the inspection and quality assurance techniques at the manufacturing stage and in particular:

  • the processes and procedures which will be used, particularly as regards sterilization, purchasing and the relevant documents,

  • the product identification procedures drawn up and kept up to date from drawings, specifications or other relevant documents at every stage of manufacture;

(d)

the appropriate tests and trials to be carried out before, during and after manufacture, the frequency with which they will take place, and the test equipment used; it must be possible adequately to trace back the calibration of the test equipment.

3.3.The notified body must audit the quality system to determine whether it meets the requirements referred to in Section 3.2. It must presume that quality systems which implement the relevant harmonized standards conform to these requirements.U.K.

The assessment team must include at least one member with past experience of assessments of the technology concerned. The assessment procedure must include an inspection on the manufacturer's premises and, in duly substantiated cases, on the premises of the manufacturer's suppliers to inspect the manufacturing processes.

The decision must be notified to the manufacturer after the final inspection and contain the conclusions of the inspection and a reasoned assessment.

3.4.The manufacturer must inform the notified body which approved the quality system of any plan for substantial changes to the quality system.U.K.

The notified body must assess the changes proposed and verify whether after these changes the quality system still meets the requirements referred to in Section 3.2.

After the abovementioned information has been received the decision is notified to the manufacturer. It must contain the conclusions of the inspection and a reasoned assessment.