1. Inter American Accreditation Cooperation
The Regional Accreditation Cooperation of the Americas

2. Regional cooperation of accreditation bodies of
The Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC) is a
Regional cooperation of accreditation bodies of
Certification bodies
Inspection bodies
Testing and Calibration
Laboratories

3. BACKGROUND Created in 1996 in Montevideo, Uruguay
Legally established in Mexico as a Non Profit Organization in 2001
IAF and ILAC member

4. Total IAAC Membership: 41
Full Members : 23
Associate Members: 7
Stakeholder Members: 11
IAAC has 3 Membership categories:
Full members are accreditation bodies that comply with international guides and standards
Associate members are accreditation bodies that do not yet comply with international guides and standards, however they are working to achieve full member status
Stakeholder members are conformity assessment bodies and organizations interested in the development of accreditation in the region. IAAC is a useful tool for Stakeholders to have a voice at international accreditation forums

5. Global Accreditation Snapshot
ILAC - IAF EA
APLAC-PAC
The accreditation world is divided into the following regions.
There are 2 international organizations:
The International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation which focuses on Accreditors of Laboratories
The International Accreditation Forum which focuses on Accreditors of Certification Bodies
We have IAAC for the Americas, from Canada to Argentina.
APLAC focuses on Laboratories and PAC on Accreditors of Certification Bodies
EA covers European countries and SADCA countries of Southern Africa
Asia Pacific and Europe have already signed Multi-lateral Recognition Arrangements
While IAAC and SADCA are still in the process of achieving it.
AFRAC
IAAC
EA European Cooperation for Accreditation
APLAC Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation
PAC Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation
IAF International Accreditation Forum
ILAC International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation
AFRAC African Accreditation Cooperation

6. IAAC is recognized by:
ILAC
IAF
IAAC has an MoU with:
APLAC
PAC
SADCA

7. Inter-Institutional Relations ILAC - IAF - PAC - APLAC - SADCA
IAAC Representation at relevant Committees
Proficiency Testing programs
Peer Evaluator training courses
Participation at IAAC meetings

8. Multi-Lateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA)

9. MLA MRA MLA Accreditation Body Test & Cal Labs QMS
The proces for an IAAC full member to achieve signatory status from the moment it applies until it signs takes an average of 2 years.
The process is carried out at a lesser expense than if it applied directly to the international cooperations.
Taking into account that the process to maintain an MLA involves future visits by the evaluation team.
It also implies staff taking time off from the daily work to travel to international meetings
Many Abs do not have the funding or the staff to do this, and choose to focus on the work at the Regional level.
MLA
Accreditation Body 9

10. Current IAAC MLA Scopes:
Testing and Calibration Laboratories
QMS Certification Bodies
EMS Certification Bodies
Product Certification Bodies
Inspection Bodies

11. IAAC MLAs recognized by IAF-ILAC:
Testing and Calibration Laboratories
QMS Certification Bodies
Currently in the final stages for recognition by IAF for:
EMS Certification Bodies
Product Certification Bodies
Inspection Bodies

12. IAAC MLA SIGNATORIES For Testing Laboratories (15)
Argentina - OAA (Including Medical/Clinical Labs - ISO 15189)
Brazil - Cgcre
Canada - SCC (Including Medical/Clinical Labs - ISO 15189)
Costa Rica - ECA
Chile – INN (Including Medical/Clinical Labs - ISO 15189)
Cuba - ONARC
Guatemala – OGA (Including Medical/Clinical Labs - ISO 15189)
Mexico - ema (Including Medical/Clinical Labs - ISO 15189)
Uruguay - OUA
USA - A2LA (Including Medical/Clinical Labs - ISO 15189)
USA – AIHA-LAP
USA – ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board Dba ACLASS
USA - ASCLD-LAB
USA - FQS
USA – NVLAP
Currently 8 accreditation bodies are MLA signatories. OGA (Guatemala) and ANAB (USA) will be officially approved at the next GA.

13. IAAC MLA SIGNATORIES For Calibration Laboratories (10) Argentina - OAA
Brazil - Cgcre
Canada - SCC
Costa Rica - ECA
Chile – INN
Cuba - ONARC
Mexico - ema
USA - A2LA
USA – ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board Dba ACLASS
USA – NVLAP
Currently 8 accreditation bodies are MLA signatories. OGA (Guatemala) and ANAB (USA) will be officially approved at the next GA.

14. IAAC MLA SIGNATORIES
For Quality Management Systems Certification Bodies (9)
Argentina - OAA
Brazil - Cgcre
Canada – SCC
Costa Rica - ECA
Chile – INN
Mexico - ema
Peru - INDECOPI/SNA
USA – ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board Dba ANAB
Uruguay - OUA
Currently 8 accreditation bodies are MLA signatories. OGA (Guatemala) and ANAB (USA) will be officially approved at the next GA.

15. IAAC MLA SIGNATORIES
For Environmental Management Systems Certification Bodies(7)
Argentina - OAA
Brazil - Cgcre
Canada - SCC
Chile – INN
Mexico - ema
USA – ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board Dba ANAB
Uruguay - OUA
Currently 8 accreditation bodies are MLA signatories. OGA (Guatemala) and ANAB (USA) will be officially approved at the next GA.

16. IAAC MLA SIGNATORIES For Product Certification Bodies (5)
Argentina - OAA
Brazil - Cgcre
Canada - SCC
Mexico - ema
USA - A2LA
For Inspection Bodies (2)
Currently 8 accreditation bodies are MLA signatories. OGA (Guatemala) and ANAB (USA) will be officially approved at the next GA.

17. BENEFITS OF INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION
Strengthen the technical competence in the Americas
Overcome Technical Barriers to Trade
Comparable systems with other regions
Smaller costs with the same confidence
Knowledge transfer
The regional accreditation system is strenghtened ONCE IAF and ILAC recognized IAAC as a regional accrediation cooperation
Countries from the Americas have comparable accreditation systems with countries in other regions
Costs to perform peer assessments are reduced and they are trustworthy
Our Accreditation Bodies are constantly receiving technical training to improve their accreditation systems and maintain compliance with the requirements.

18. C U R R E N T I A A C P R O J E C T S IAAC – OAS IAAC – PTB
OAS: Organization of American States
IAAC – OAS
IAAC – PTB
PTB: Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt
OAS - Evaluations, witnessing of IAAC Evaluations, internships, consultancies, courses, proficiency testing programs
IDB - Awareness, training, evaluations, internships, proficiency tests, technical assistance
PTB - Peer evaluator training, proficiency testing, courses

19. 2010-2011 IAAC Proficiency Testing Programs
IAAC T007 Proficiency Test for Powdered Milk
 IAAC T006 Proficiency Test for Sugar Analysis
IAAC T005 Proficiency Test for Preservatives in Non-alcoholic Beverages
IAAC T004 Proficiency Test for Wine

20. Technical training courses
Peer evaluator workshop for new evaluators, Lima, Peru, April 2011.
Training course on ISO/IEC 17021, Asuncion, Paraguay, April 2011.
Peer evaluator training workshop for experienced evaluators, Washington D.C., USA , February 2011.
Peer evaluator training workshop for experienced evaluators, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil , August 2010.
English will be held in USA date to be determined
Spanish will be held in Costa Rica in July 2008
The courses will only be conducted if a sufficient number of new applicant evaluators have been accepted by the MLA committee.
17024 – Personnel
inspection

21. 16th IAAC General Assembly
UPCOMING MEETINGS
16th IAAC General Assembly
Quito, Ecuador
August 20-27, 2011

22. For more Information contact: