Procedure P704 Has Been Revised; List of Subfields L704-001 Has Been Published

The Turkish Accreditation Agency (TÜRKAK) has enacted the “P704 Procedure for Proficiency Testing and Interlaboratory Comparison Programs Other Than Proficiency Testing,” which directly affects the proficiency testing processes of laboratories and conformity assessment bodies, through its 13th revision. The agency also published for the first time the new “L704-001 List of Subfields” document, which will serve as a guide for initial accreditation and scope expansion applications.

The new regulations, which took effect on April 8, 2026, introduce important criteria and penalties regarding participation in proficiency testing (YT) and interlaboratory comparisons (LAK) as part of the accreditation process.

Key Changes and New Rules

Minimum Success Criteria Established by L704-001: Organizations applying for initial accreditation or a scope expansion must meet the minimum successful participation requirement in the sub-areas representative of the scope of the application. While the published L704-001 list clarifies these sub-areas, this rule will be mandatory for applications submitted on or after July 1, 2026.
48-Month Cycle and the “Last 6 Months” Rule Prior to Audits: The requirement that organizations demonstrate successful participation at least once every 48 months for each technical competency area they have identified remains in effect. However, if, as of the audit date, there are 6 months or fewer remaining until the 48-month period for the successful outcome expires, this situation will be recorded directly as a nonconformity.
Strict Requirements for Non-Accredited Providers: In cases where services are obtained from providers that do not hold TS EN ISO/IEC 17043 accreditation, the retention of qualified electronic signatures, time-stamped final reports, sample shipment and transfer tracking records, and raw data records is now mandatory.
Late Participation and Draft Reports Are Invalid: Late participation in programs that have already been published will not be accepted under any circumstances; data based on interim or draft reports will not be considered valid.
Severe Penalty for Accreditation Revocation: For programs whose accreditation has been revoked due to a failure to demonstrate successful outcomes within a 48-month cycle, a successful participation outcome will be required for any subsequent applications; otherwise, the application will be rejected outright.