NATA is pleased to recognise an important milestone in Australia’s accreditation history: 70 years of accredited chemical testing by the National Measurement Institute. Since 11 June 1956, NMI’s NSW Chemical Laboratories have held NATA accreditation for chemical testing and measurement services. That accreditation now extends to NMI’s Victorian laboratories, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to producing accurate, reliable and trusted results.
For NATA, this milestone reflects more than longevity. It demonstrates NMI’s sustained technical capability, robust quality systems and continued alignment with recognised standards. Independent accreditation gives customers, regulators and the wider community confidence that testing organisations can produce results they can rely on. It also supports sound decisions in areas that affect public safety, trade, environmental protection and regulation.
NATA-accredited chemical testing plays a critical role in everyday life, even when that work is not visible to the public. It helps verify the safety of food and medicines, monitor environmental pollutants, identify pesticide residues and detect banned substances in sport.
Sustaining accreditation for 70 years is a significant achievement. It requires ongoing evidence of competence, disciplined quality management and the ability to respond as science, technology and community expectations evolve.
NMI’s Australian Sports Drug Testing Laboratory is a strong example of this continuous improvement. Established in 1995, the laboratory has expanded its accredited services as anti-doping science has advanced. Its work now includes advanced instrument testing and human serum testing, supporting more sensitive and reliable detection.
This capacity to adapt while maintaining accreditation is central to the value NATA provides. Accreditation gives confidence that laboratories are not only technically capable today but are also maintaining the systems and expertise needed to support reliable results into the future.
NATA congratulates NMI’s scientists, technicians and quality specialists on this achievement. Their continued commitment to accredited testing helps protect confidence in the measurements Australians rely on to support safety, fairness and trust across the community.
