1. Emanuele Riva – IAF Vice-Chair
The International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) & The International Accreditation Forum (IAF)
Benefits of the ILAC & IAF Multilateral Mutual Recognition Arrangements
Emanuele Riva – IAF Vice-Chair

2. What is accreditation?
‘Independent evaluation of conformity assessment bodies against recognized standards to ensure their impartiality and competence to carry out specific activities, such as tests, calibrations, inspections and certifications.’

3. CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT PRODUCT & SERVICE PROVIDERS
Peer
Evaluation
ACCREDITATION
International Standards
CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT
BODIES
Standards / Regulatory requirements / Scheme criteria
PRODUCT & SERVICE PROVIDERS
CONFIDENCE
TRUST
ASSURANCE
GOVERNMENT
CONSUMERS
PURCHASERS

4. IAF and ILAC – an Introduction
ILAC and IAF are global networks of accreditation bodies and organisations involved in conformity assessment activities.
Recognition of competent and equally reliable conformity assessment activities through Global Arrangements
The development and harmonization of accreditation practices
The promotion of accreditation as an effective mechanism for providing confidence in goods and services

5. IAF and ILAC Objectives
To maintain the Arrangements, and to expand coverage into new economies
To increase cooperation with all relevant stakeholders
To act as a central ‘hub’ to harmonise conformity assessment best practice
To provide assistance to developing countries by providing appropriate support to new accreditation activities

6. Global Vision
A single programme of conformity assessment which reduces risk for business, regulators and the consumer, by ensuring that accredited services can be relied upon.
Government and Regulators relying on the Arrangements to further develop or enhance trade agreements.
To support world trade by eliminating technical barriers, realising the free-trade goal of ‘tested, inspected or certified once and accepted everywhere' .

7. Regional Cooperation Bodies
ILAC – The Membership
ILAC is the oversight body for laboratory and inspection body accreditation.
Full Members
Associate Members
Affiliates
Regional Cooperation Bodies
Stakeholders

8. IAF– The Membership
IAF is the oversight body in the fields of the certification of management systems, personnel and products.
Accreditation Bodies
Certification Body Associations
Regional Cooperation Bodies
Industry Associations
Stakeholders and Scheme Owners

9. IAF / ILAC timeline 2001 1st Joint IAF-ILAC General Assembly
2000 ILAC MRA
Testing &
Calibration
2012 ILAC MRA Inspection
1977 – ILAC established
ILAC Incorporated
1996 – ILAC MOU
1998
IAF MLA for QMS
IAF Bylaws
IAF Incorporated
1993 – IAF established
2004 – IAF MLAs for EMS and Product

10. The ILAC and IAF Arrangements
Accreditation body members deemed competent through a peer evaluation process:
ISO/IEC 17011
IAF-ILAC A series documents
Signatories must recognise certificates, reports, and results issued by organisations accredited by other Signatories
Provides business with assurance that overseas bodies operate to the same standard.
Removes technical barriers to trade by eliminating redundant conformity assessment

11. Regional Cooperation Bodies
The IAF and ILAC Arrangements are structured to build on existing and developing regional MLAs/MRAs established around the world.
European Cooperation
for
Accreditation
(EA)
Pacific Accreditation
Cooperation (PAC)
Inter-American
Accreditation Cooperation
(IAAC)
Asia Pacific Laboratory
Accreditation Cooperation
(APLAC)
Southern African
Development
Community Accreditation
(SADCA)
African Accreditation Cooperation (AFRAC)
Arab Accreditation Cooperation
The IAF MLA recognises EA, PAC, IAAC
The ILAC MRA recognises EA, APLAC, IAAC

12. Coverage of the ILAC MRA (April 2016)
ILAC MRA Signatories
ILAC Associate Members
ILAC Affiliate Members

13. Status of the ILAC MRA (April 2016)
The ILAC network of members includes 152 bodies from different economies (89 Full Members/MRA Signatories, 17 Associates, 13 Affiliates, 27 Stakeholders, 6 Regional Cooperation Bodies)
89 ILAC MRA Signatories representing 86 economies ;
ILAC MRA covers testing, calibration and inspection ;
Signatories represent about 95% of Global GDP ;
More than 49,000 accredited laboratories ;
Approximately 8,000 accredited inspection bodies.

14. USA Specifiers of the ILAC MRA
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Federal Highway Administration
Coast Guard
Department of Defense
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Food and Drug Administration
Environmental Protection Agency

15. Coverage of the IAF MLA (April 2016)
IAF MLA Signatories
IAF Members not yet Signatories 15

16. Status of the IAF MLA (April 2016)
There are 61 IAF MLA Signatories, representing 56 economies
Main Scope
Management Systems : 55 Accreditation Bodies and EA, PAC & IAAC
Product: 53 Accreditation Bodies and EA, PAC & IAAC
Sub Scope Level 4
GlobalG.A.P. IFA General Regulations: 28 Accreditation Bodies and EA, PAC & IAAC
ISO/TS 22003: 11 Accreditations Bodies and PAC
ISO/IEC 27006: 3 Accreditations Bodies and PAC
Sub Scope Level 5
ISO 9001 QMS : 55 Accreditation Bodies and EA, PAC & IAAC
ISO EMS : 51 Accreditation Bodies and EA, PAC & IAAC
GlobalG.A.P. IFA CPCCs: 28 Accreditation Bodies and EA, PAC & IAAC
ISO 22000: 11 Accreditations Bodies and PAC
ISO/IEC 27001: 3 Accreditations Bodies and PAC
Accepting Applications: MDMS, FSMS, ISMS, Persons, GHG V&V

17. The Benefits For Government For Business For Consumers
Facilitator of trade
An efficient enforcement and monitoring tool
For Business
Greater acceptance of products and services
Avoid costs associated with repeat conformity assessment
Informed procurement
For Consumers
Public confidence in goods and services
Minimises product failures or recalls

18. Summary
Commitment to developing a harmonised global approach for accreditation practices
Maintaining the Arrangements to ensure equal reliability of accredited services.
Promoting greater acceptance by regulators and businesses to remove technical barriers to trade, and avoiding the need for duplicate certifications, testing or inspections.
Supporting developing economies to establish an accreditation infrastructure.

19. Contact Details
For more information contact: For more information contact:
The IAF Secretariat The ILAC Secretariat
Elva Nilsen PO Box 7507
Box Silverwater
Chelsea, Quebec NSW 2128
Canada J9B 1A0 Australia
Phone: +1 (613) Phone: