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The International Telecommunication Union (ITU)​ organized a tutorial on ITU Testing Laboratories recognition procedure that took place at the ITU Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland on 12 October 2023. Remote connection was provided for this event. The tutorial was collocated with the ITU-T Study Group 11​ meeting that is taking place at the same venue​ from 10 to 20 October 2023.​

In December 2021, ITU launched Testing Laboratories Recognition Procedure (TSB Circular 368).

Resolution 76 (WTSA-20) instructs ITU Conformity Assessment Steering Committee (CASC) to study and define an ITU procedure to recognize testing laboratories that are competent to test according to ITU-T Recommendations, in collaboration with existing accreditation bodies.

ITU-T SG11 developed ITU-T Guideline on Testing Laboratory Recognition procedure, which defines recognition criteria for TLs. This guideline was aligned with Resolution 76 (WTSA-20) in July 2022. According to the Guideline, ITU recognizes the TLs which are accredited by an Accreditation Body (AB) that is a signatory to the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) for testing (https://ilac.org/ilac-mra-and-signatories/), which scope of accreditation contains ITU-T Recommendation(s).

Following collaboration between ITU Conformity Assessment Steering Committee (CASC) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC, https://ilac.org/), the updated Memorandum of Understanding among ITU-T, the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) was signed in August 2022.

The relevant request for TL recognition can be submitted through the online form which is made available on ITU C&I Portal (https://itu.int/go/citest). The TLs, which fulfil the criteria, will be listed in the ITU Testing Laboratory Database (https://itu.int/go/tldb) and ITU Operational Bulletins accordingly. The ITU Testing Laboratory Database can be populated by all interested parties, including non-ITU members.

In June 2023, ILAC published the ILAC Assessment Procedure in the field of Telecommunications​. This document was created in the framework of cooperation established under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), IAF and ILAC.

This tutorial summarized all achieved results and provided guidance to all interested stakeholders on how to apply for such recognition.

Objectives: 
This tutorial aimed at guiding all stakeholders on Testing Laboratories recognition procedure established by ITU, its benefits and all logistical details needed for submitting applications.