NABL introduces a new format for accreditation certificate numbers and clarifies ULR rules

The National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) announced in June 2026 a new format for accreditation certificate numbers, followed by a clarification on Unique Laboratory Report (ULR) numbers. Both affect laboratories accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 and other NABL schemes.

New certificate number format

According to a regulatory-news summary of the announcement dated 3 June 2026 [1], the new number is built from several parts:

• the accreditation field, such as testing, calibration or medical;

• the month and year of grant or renewal;

• the State or Union Territory code of the accredited body, with "GL" used for international bodies;

• the accreditation cycle number and a revision number, so that renewals and revisions are easier to track.

Certificates will also show the previous certificate number next to the new one, and the accreditation history will be maintained. Accredited bodies may keep using their existing numbers until NABL applies the new format in its software or until existing printed stationery is used up. The summary states that this transition is capped at six months.

ULR clarification

NABL issued a clarification on ULR numbers on 11 June 2026 and revised it on 15 June 2026 [2]. It covers accredited testing laboratories, calibration laboratories and reference material producers. Its stated purpose is to help authenticate test reports, particularly for products listed on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM). The ULR must appear along with the laboratory's own report or certificate number on reports issued within the accredited scope, and the prescribed ULR format depends on the laboratory's certificate format.

The clarification says the ULR system is not mandatory for reports issued by in-house laboratories. It also lists exclusions, including non-commodity testing such as air, wastewater, environmental parameters, soil and rock, cell culture, veterinary, dope and forensic testing, and reports with parameters outside the accredited scope. Laboratories have six months to adopt the revised certificate numbering and the matching ULR format.

What labs should do

Laboratories should check their report templates, LIMS settings and quality manuals so that the new number and ULR can be printed correctly once their revised certificate arrives. The exact formats are in NABL's own documents; please refer to nabl-india.org for the official text. The summaries cited here are third-party reports of the NABL notices.