The ILAC MRA Mark NCSLI Conference 10 August 2005 Peter Unger President, A2LA Vice Chair, ILAC

ILAC International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation

ILAC’s Global Role International forum for: –Recognition of competent test and calibration labs world-wide through its MRA –Development and/or appropriate harmonization of laboratory accreditation practice –Promotion of laboratory accreditation as a trade facilitation tool –Assistance with developing laboratory accreditation systems

How is ILAC Structured? General Assembly is the highest decision making body and consists of one rep from each membership category General Assembly meets once per year All classes of membership and other interested parties are allowed to contribute to ILAC’s work and direction.

Regions of ILAC ILAC APLAC IAAC IAACInter-American Accreditation Cooperation EA European co-operation for Accreditation APLACAsia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation SADCASouthern African Accreditation Cooperation SADCA CAC-MAS-Q Central Asian Cooperation for Metrology, Accreditation, Standards - Quality EA CAC-MAS-Q

ILAC’s Ultimate Aim One test One calibration One inspection One accreditation Accepted everywhere

History of ILAC and its MRA On 20 January 2003, became formally incorporated in the Netherlands after 27 years as an informal cooperation of accreditation bodies and interested stakeholders On 2 November 2000, a Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) among those members which had successfully completed a peer evaluation was signed As of August 2005, 47 members representing 38 economies are signatories to the Arrangement

Obligations of MRA Signatories Recognize equivalence of results Recognize and promote acceptance of each other’s accreditations Investigate complaints Notify others of significant changes Contribute to the work of ILAC Provide peer evaluators Cooperate to extend Arrangement

SINGAPORE SAC NEW ZEALAND IANZ INDIA NABL JAPAN JAB IA JAPAN Regional Group APLAC MRA AUSTRALIA NATA REP. OF KOREA KOLAS USA A2LA IAS NVLAP VIETNAM VILAS HONG KONG HKAS INDONESIA KAN CHINA, PRC CNAL MALAYSIA DSM CANADA SCC CHINESE TAIPEI TAF THAILAND DMSc, TLAS SOUTH AFRICA SANAS BRAZIL INMETRO ISRAEL ISRAC NETHERLANDS RvA SLOVAK REPUBLIC SNAS Regional Group EA MLA BELGIUM BELTEST BKO/OBE DENMARK DANAK FINLAND FINAS FRANCE COFRAC GERMANY DKD DAP DACH DATech DASMIN IRELAND NAB ITALY SINAL SIIT SPAIN ENAC NORWAY NA SWEDEN SWEDAC SWITZERLAND SAS CZECH REPUBLIC CAI AUSTRIA BMwA GREECE ESYD UNITED KINGDOM UKAS SLOVENIA SA ROMANIA RENAR

Costs of Recognition Identifying an acceptable laboratory –by suppliers –by exporters Recognizing the certificate –by importers –by wholesalers –by retailers –by buyers –by regulators

Is This Certificate Acceptable? Test Certificate xxxx x x x x x x x x x

Is This Certificate Acceptable? Test Certificate xxxx x x x x x x x x x AB X accredited No. 999

ILAC - MRA Mark

Benefits Easily recognizable –Reduces cost of recognition Mark of quality –Used exclusively by laboratories accredited by ILAC MRA signatories –for accredited activities Traceability –Authenticity verifiable through ILAC

Licensing Arrangement Laboratories accredited for the test SUB-LICENCEE ILAC OWNER LICENSE (binding) ILAC – MRA SIGNATORIES ILAC – MRA SIGNATORIES LICENCEE SUB-LICENSE (binding) Certificate ATTACH ILAC – MRA MARK

Use of the Combined MRA Mark By licensee signatory accreditation body –for activities under ILAC MRA –demonstrate signatory status By accredited laboratories –for activities accredited by an ILAC MRA signatory –demonstrate accreditation by a signatory of the ILAC MRA

Combined MRA Mark Used by ILAC Signatory

Combined MRA Mark Used by Accredited Laboratories

Protection of Mark in License Regulations governing usage –Withdrawal of rights to use on violation, infringement or lack of due diligence –Publish violation or infringement –ILAC may claim monetary damages from licensee for violation or infringement –ILAC and AB shall take action against any third party infringement of rights Trade mark registration –ILAC registers the mark internationally for Madrid countries –Licensees register the mark for non-Madrid countries

Protection of Mark in Sub-license Regulation governing usage –Sub-licensee exercises diligence –Sub-licensors publish violation or infringement in its website –Take action against third party violation or infringement –Sub-licensor may claim monetary damages from sub- licensee for violation or infringement –Withdrawal of rights to use upon violation or infringement, or lack of due diligence

Is This Certificate Now Acceptable? Test Certificate xxxx x x x x x x x x x AB X accredited No. 999

The ILAC Mark is: Easily recognizable More uniform approach for accredited results Demonstrable traceability of measurement Impartial and non-discriminatory mechanism to identify competent labs and results for which one can have confidence Authenticity verifiable through ILAC Reduces costs of recognition

Thank you for your attention! For further information: ILAC Secretariat Web: