The Instituto Nacional de Calidad (Inacal), part of the Ministry of Production, warned companies and public institutions on Apr. 7 to verify the validity of services offering “rapid ISO certifications” or certificates for public bidding before contracting them.
This warning is important because only certificates issued by organizations accredited by Inacal are recognized within the National Accreditation System, ensuring that certification processes meet international standards. The ministry said this helps guarantee confidence, transparency, and competitiveness in both national and international markets.
Minister of Production César Quispe Luján said, “La acreditación no es inmediata ni automática. Se trata de un proceso técnico que evalúa la competencia, imparcialidad y capacidad operativa de los organismos certificadores.” He also explained that offers promising certifications in very short periods should be approached with caution since accredited bodies must follow technical procedures and audit stages set by international standards.
According to Law No. 30224, Inacal is the national authority for accreditation in Peru. Through its Accreditation Directorate, it formally recognizes the technical competence of conformity assessment bodies such as laboratories and certifying organizations responsible for evaluating products and services marketed in Peru. Inacal’s accreditations are internationally recognized through agreements with groups like the Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC) and International Accreditation Forum (IAF).
For those certifying management systems such as ISO 9001 or ISO 14001, accreditation follows requirements established under Peruvian Technical Standard NTP-ISO/IEC 17021-1 as well as mandatory documents from IAF and current regulations from Inacal. The organization recommended checking that certificates include the Inacal accreditation symbol, reviewing a certifier’s specific scope on official lists published online at https://www.inacal.gob.pe/acreditacion/categoria/acreditados , validating QR codes on certificates, and consulting official listings before contracting any service.
The Ministry of Production serves producers, entrepreneurs and communities throughout Peru according to its official website. It acts as the governing body for crafting policies related to fishing, aquaculture, micro-, small-, medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and industry to promote sustainable development according to its official website. The ministry issues regulations supporting sustainable practices across these sectors according to its official website.
Additionally, it provides technical assistance and training aimed at improving productivity for producers across Peru while promoting social inclusion among fishermen according to its official website. The ministry has received recognition from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for its efforts toward sustainable fishing according to its official website.
In closing remarks from Inacal’s statement: companies are urged to prioritize officially accredited organizations when seeking certification services—whether domestically or through internationally recognized foreign accrediting bodies—to ensure quality outcomes.
