Quality Assurance Management

 

The quality system of the Estonian Forensic Science Institute is based on two internationally recognized standard: EVS-EN ISO/IEC 17025:2006 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories (ISO/IEC 17025:2005) and EVS-EN ISO 9001:2008 Standard for Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001:2008)

The objectives of the institute are to do its work

-   impartially;

-  with a high level of professionalism and technology; and

-  in an economically efficient manner

so as to ensure the dependability and the domestic and international recognition of the results of its work.

The Estonian Forensic Science Institute has been awarded by the Estonian Accreditation Centre with the EN ISO 17025 certificate since the year 2003.

Such accreditation guarantees that the results of the forensic studies carried out by the institute are accepted throughout the European Union.

Accreditation has been given in the fields of designation of toxic substances from biological material, narcotic and psychotropic substance, gunshot residues, electron microscopy, DNA analysis and the uncovering and identification of fingerprints (Certificate L127, L127 annex and List of Accreditation of Flexible Scopes).

The management of the institute considers the constant development of the quality management system and the consistent improvement of its effectiveness to be key quality-related goals. One of its general objectives for the coming years is to validate at least two methods each year that have already been developed, primarily in the areas of technical forensic science and the work of experts on location.

In addition to the system governing the institute’s forensic operations, a quality management system is also being developed and implemented on the basis of standard EN ISO 9001 to govern the institute’s management activities.

Since May 28th, 2009 EFSI is certified by Bureau Veritas Eesti OÜ (Certificate No. EST90645A).