The Guatemalan Accreditation Body (OGA) is a component of the National Quality System within the Ministry of Economy. The OGA was stated by Governmental Agreement Number 145-2002 dated on May 3rd of 2002.  A new Law was issued on December 2005; the Decree 78-2005 stated the National Quality System of Guatemala and it modified the provisions regarding OGA.

OGA is IAAC/MLA and ILAC/MRA signatory for testing.

Its main purpose is to apply and manage the accreditation in the whole national area, in order to formally recognize the technical competence of the conformity assessment bodies, according to the national and international standards.

The OGA assess the conformity assessments bodies for fulfilling the requirements of the national and international standards, as follow:

• Testing and Calibration Laboratories (ISO/IEC17025, ISO 15189)
• Certification Bodies
• Inspection Bodies

OGA, due its accreditation function, establishe relationship with different bodies and organizations inside the national quality infraestructure, state ministry, project cooperation, accredited bodies and other bodies.  OGA realized a relationship analyze to them and take in consideration the importance of impartiality and independence require in its functions, so it has defined procedures and dispositions to regulate and assure their objetivity during all accreditation process.

• Application form
• General Document Review
• Pre-assessment (optional)
• Assessment Team Appointed / Approval
• Tender Sending / Acceptance
• Document Assessment
• Assessment on site
• Assessment of Corrective Actions
• Accreditation Committee / Recommendation
• Accreditation Decision of OGA
• Surveillance and Reassessment

The conformity assessment bodies accredited are able to use OGA´s Accreditation Mark, it identifies them as an assessed and formal recognized competent bodies.

The Guatemalan Accreditation Body has procedures to regulate the use of its Accreditation Mark