The Laboratory Committee of the European co-operation for Accreditation (EA LC) met on 22–23 September 2026 in Brussels, Belgium. The Accreditation Body of Montenegro (ATCG) was represented by Ana Radović, Head of the Department for Laboratory Accreditation and Tatjana Raičević, Advisor in the Department for Laboratory Accreditation.

The meeting included a workshop on flexible scopes of accreditation, focusing on the boundaries of flexibility, the presentation of accreditation scopes, the implementation of EA-2/15 and differences compared with fixed scopes. The workshop conclusions will be prepared for the next Committee meeting in March 2027, when breakout sessions on the identified issues are also planned.

The Committee discussed the further development of documents supporting laboratory operations and assessments. The revised EA-4/18 G, which provides guidance on the level and frequency of participation in proficiency testing, will be presented for discussion and approval in March 2027. The Committee also agreed to withdraw EA-4/14 INF:2003 on the selection and use of reference materials.

The Committee approved answers to three technical questions concerning test reports, a relevant TMB resolution and the use of externally provided input data. Discussions also addressed the potential accreditation of simulation activities and the application of ISO/IEC 17025 requirements in this area. The task force working on this topic will present its results at the next meeting.

In the forensic field, the results of a survey of national accreditation bodies were presented to inform further activities. A representative of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI) gave a presentation on the use of artificial intelligence in forensics, with closer cooperation envisaged through future joint activities. Cooperation with the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) on a joint webinar was also discussed. Experiences shared by TIC Council regarding ITSEF laboratory accreditation raised questions for further consideration by the Technical Network on Electrical and Information Technologies.

Karin Engelhart of the Swedish accreditation body SWEDAC was elected as the new Committee Vice-Chair for 2027–2028. Committee members thanked Sergio Guzzi of the Italian accreditation body Accredia, who chaired his last meeting.

The topics addressed at the meeting are relevant to the further development of ATCG’s practices, particularly in defining accreditation scopes, assessing sampling activities and keeping pace with new developments in the laboratory field.