ADFCA a Global Pioneer in the Implementation of Topnotch Integrated Management System, Says BSI
Abu Dhabi, February 16: The British Standards Institution, one of the world�s largest independent certifiers of management systems, has confirmed that Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) is the first organization at the global level to commit itself to implementing an Integrated Management System (IMS) comprising six systems of international standards, making the Authority a global pioneer in the area.
This comes in the wake of the Authority obtaining the conformity certificates in three of the six systems it has committed to accomplish, namely, ISO9001:2008, ISO14001:2004, OHSAS18001: 2007 in addition to the Integration Compliance Certificate against the Bsi Specification PAS99:2006. The accomplishment brings the Authority close to achieving its stated mission of becoming an internationally recognized organization.
The systems under implementation include quality management, environmental management, Occupational Health and Safety Management, Business Continuity Management, Information security Management, Customer Complaints Management, all integrated into one seamless whole.
Integrated Management System (IMS) is a combination of two or more management systems standards collapsed into a single whole for purposes of management focus, administrative cohesiveness and efficiency. ADFCA plans to complete the implementation of the six systems over a period of five years, during 2009 - 2013.
In an event held by ADFCA at the Fairmont Hotel last Wednesday to celebrate the achievement in the Authority's first Stage Completion Certification against three-out-of-six systems, His Excellency Rashid Mohamed As Shariqi, ADFCA Director General, said that the achievement was a milestone in the history of ADFCA, which is entering its 6th year of operations.
Al Shariqi said the implementation of IMS will lead to unprecedented improvement in the standards of services offered by ADFCA to the general public in all areas of its operations. "We are very happy about this achievement. It will have a welcome impact on not only our services, but also on the professionalism of our staff, administrative and managerial systems and integration across our various areas of responsibility," he hoped.
Theuns Kotze, Regional Director of BSI for Middle East and Africa, who gave away the certificates to ADFCA officials, congratulated the Authority on the accomplishment. "ADFCA is now one of the pioneering organizations globally in this area. The Authority has successfully implemented all the best practices and adapted itself to international standards, setting an example for the region," he pointed out.
His Excellency Majid Al Mansouri. Chairman of the Department of Municipal Affairs and a member of ADFCA Governing Board, was also present on the occasion. Al Shariqi honored him for his outstanding support for ADFCA throughout its five years of existence.
