AFAQ-EAQA AND YOU: ABOUT US: Our background

As part of the AFNOR Group, we have issued over 20,000 certificates in more than 60 countries and have offices worldwide.

Our pedigree goes back to 1972, when the UK electricity industry first introduced the concept of Quality Management Certification in the purchasing process. EAQA became the sector certification body. Its close links with the UK power industry enabled EAQA to develop certification processes that reflected the needs of the sector, and provide auditors who were experts in this field.

From there, we've evolved into the world's leading certification body for the power sector, and our expertise covers the major industrial sectors for the energy industry, including nuclear and renewables. Click here to see some of our clients.

In 2001, we merged with the French group AFNOR, making us one of the world's largest accredited certification bodies.

Some milestones

1975 The CEGB (Central Electricity Generating Board) sets up a division to deal with Second Party Quality Certification
1978 A parallel scheme is establish for the electricity distribution industry (under the Electricity Council)
1990 The organisation is renamed MACS (Manufacturing Auditing and Consultation Services) to broaden the scope of its activities
1991 Move to the Electricity Association, becoming Electricity Association Quality Assurance
1992 Accreditation by UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service for certification of quality management systems (ISO 9000)
1996 Accreditation by UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service for certification of environmental management systems (ISO 14001)
1997 Trading name changes to EAQA Ltd
1999 Accreditation by ANSI-RAB (now known as ANAB - ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board)
2001 EAQA bought by French Group AFAQ
2003 Trading name changes to AFAQ-EAQA
2005 AFAQ & AFNOR merge to create the AFNOR Group