TURKLAB, the Association of Calibration and Testing Laboratories, was established in 2004 with the purpose of being the union for all laboratories providing services in both the private and public sectors in Turkey. Representing our country on international platforms, our association became a member of EUROLAB on October 26, 2004. Our primary objective is to protect and enhance the rights and interests of our sector against of legal and public authorities.
Our association is a national organization that aims to bring together all private and public companies providing laboratory services in Turkey. Laboratories are globally defined as establishments where testing and calibration services, as well as all types of conformity assessment activities, are conducted. Since it is impossible to prove the quality of a product that has not been measured or assessed, laboratory activities have been gaining importance, particularly for Turkey as it progresses towards European Union membership. The same applies to global trade.
The establishment process of our association began with meetings held in 2002, and the necessary legal application was finalized in the fall of 2003. Our association was officially founded with the application of seven founding members and appoved by the Kartal (İstanbul) District Governorate on February 5, 2004.
On July 15, 2004, Dr. Ömer Güzel visited EUROLAB General Secretary Dr. Manfred Goelze in Berlin on behalf of TURKLAB to introduce our association. In September, a comprehensive file, including our association’s charter, was presented at the EUROLAB board meeting. On October 25-26, during the member countries’ meeting in Bratislava, Dr. Ömer Güzel made a presentation about TURKLAB and laboratory activities in Turkey. Membership applications from Romania, Croatia, Malta, and Turkey were discussed, and TURKLAB’s membership was unanimously approved.
Dr. Ömer Güzel was elected as a member of the EUROLAB Board of Directors and was re-elected during the EUROLAB General Assembly and Annual Meeting held in Prague on April 18-20, 2012.
The key objectives of our association, as detailed in our charter, can be summarized as follows:
- Ensuring coordination and collaboration among laboratories in Turkey.
- Representing the sector before legal authorities and institutions.
- Supporting our members in accreditation and certification processes.
- Prioritizing sectoral training programs.
- Representing Turkey within EUROLAB.
With globalization, the needs of our members and their clients are continuously evolving. Both testing and calibration laboratories play a crucial role, especially in export activities. Therefore, relations with TURKAK continue to play a significant role in the scope of accreditation for our association.
Since its establishment, our association has placed great importance on sectoral training, by offering technical and quality-related courses tailored to laboratory needs. These training courses are listed in our association’s brochure (link provided below).
TURKLAB has actively participated in EU-funded projects such as the “Enhancement of Turkey’s Quality Infrastructure Project (2002-2007)” and the “Strengthening Turkey’s Quality Infrastructure Project (2010-2012).” As part of these projects, TURKLAB represented laboratories in Turkey and contributed to promotional events, training sessions, accreditation meetings, and proficiency testing developments across various cities. In the latter project, 20 proficiency tests were conducted by TURKLAB member laboratories.
As the number of members increases, our association is becoming more dynamic and is having more influence in the industry.
Laboratories are facing many professional, technical, and educational challenges. Addressing these challenges requires active lobbying and advocacy in public platforms.
Changing market conditions necessitate increased attention to customer relationships and a proactive approach to evolving requests. Additionally, laboratories should focus on environmental sustainability, proper waste management, and continuous training programs to enhance the technical skills and competence of their staff.
The establishment of national quality control programs and the proper assessments based on test results are also among the primary activities carried out by our association.
In 2012, our association had an institutional structure and moved to its own premises in Ataşehir, Istanbul. Effective public engagement and member services are only possible with adequate financial resources obtained from membership fees and training programs. Our Board of Directors welcomes suggestions and contributions from our valued members and stakeholders.
TURKLAB also plays an active role in regulatory and legislative matters through its representation on the Conformity Assessment Association Board in Turkey.
As of 2012, our association had 106 members, and our goal is to increase the number of members significantly in the coming years. For TURKLAB to achieve a strong presence within EUROLAB, it is essential to become a financially stable and well-structured professional association.
As the sole representative of the laboratories, our association will continue to strengthen its position with your participation and support. We invite all organizations in the sector to become members and to contribute to our shared mission.