ISQ and SGS partner for the certification of masks for social use

ISQ and SGS Portugal have just established a partnership to respond to the accredited certification market for masks for social use. ISQ, through its laboratory activities, and SGS Portugal, as a certification body, join forces to give an excellent and independent response to the Portuguese industry, where masks already mean 8 % in exports from the textile industry.

Masks for social use in Europe and Portugal have new rules and, now, we can talk about certified masks that guarantee adequate safety and protection, allowing to provide a higher level of confidence to consumers, regulators, industrial and all other stakeholders, that the product “masks for social use” meets the specified requirements. In the light of developments in the coronavirus pandemic in Europe, and following the urgent request from the European Commission, cen -European Committee for Standardisation has developed a new agreement in the context of masks for social use, cwa 17553:2020- Community face coverings – Guide to minimum requirements, methods of testing and use.

This guide contains the minimum requirements, test methods and ways of wearing masks for social use, thus the conditions at Community level for the manufacture, design and level of performance of these products are laid down. In addition, the IPQ – Portuguese Institute of Quality – published the Normative Document Portuguese Technical Specification DNP TS 4575:2020 Masks for social use – Requirements for certification, where the requirements for accredited certification of masks for social use and its certification scheme are established.

This document supports manufacturers who want to certify their product – masks for social use, based on the requirements of CWA 17553. In this context and on the basis of a cooperation strategy, ISQ, a reference laboratory body in Portugal that operates in the context of testing for masks for social use, and SGS Portugal, the world’s leading certifying body, two traditionally competing entities, add skills and experience to make the process of certification of masks for social use faster and with the usual guarantee of independence, accuracy and confidence that characterize both entities.

ISQ administration explains that “the decision to establish this exceptional partnership between two reference entities at the national level reflects isq’s commitment and determination to continue to support the efforts of the Portuguese industry in the production of masks for social use.”