2. 1.Harmonization of accreditation practices  Implementation of ISO/IEC 17011 standard (reinforcement of the impartiality of accreditation bodies)  Joint ILAC/IAF work on a guidance document  Joint ILAC/IAF training of peer evaluators  Joint ILAC/IAF Inspection Committee

3. Basic principles of the European accreditation infrastructure  Only one accreditation body or system per country  No open competition between nationaly recognized accreditation bodies  Separation between accreditation and other conformity assessment activities (independance and impartiality)  Transparency and openness to stakeholders  Each national accreditation body (except in Germany) operates in the voluntary and in the mandatory fields  European recognition through the EA MLA

4. 2.Establishing multilateral recognition agreements/arrangements  Evolution of lists of signatories (see websites : www.ilac.org, www.iaf.nu, www.european-accreditation.org)www.ilac.org www.iaf.nuwww.european-accreditation.org  For instance: New signatories: PCA (Poland) for EA/ILAC/IAF OAA (Argentina) for ILAC/IAF ONARC (Cuba) for ILAC NLAB (Egypt) for ILAC Suspension: RENAR (Romania) for EA/ILAC/IAF  Cooperation ILAC/IAF for the management of their MLA’s

5. 3.Promoting accreditation as a tool for facilitating trade  New joint working group ILAC/IAF  Cooperation with interested organisations New Mou’s: ILAC/IEC EA/Eurep Gap (Food sector) EA/IRMM (Institute of the European Commission for Reference Materials and Measurements) Under discussion: IAF/IEC EA/European Directorate for Quality of Medicine Joint communiqué ISO/ILAC/IAF

6. Joint ISO-ILAC-IAF Communiqué on the Management Systems Requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2005, General Requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories A laboratory's fulfilment of the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2005 means the laboratory meets both the technical competence requirements and management system requirements that are necessary for it to consistently deliver technically valid test results and calibrations. The management system requirements in ISO/IEC 17025 (Section 4) are written in language relevant to laboratory operations and meet the principles of ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management Systems – Requirements and are aligned with its pertinent requirements.

7. 4.Helping developping countries to set up their own accreditation scheme  Joint developpment support committee ILAC/IAF  Continued cooperation with UNIDO  Training of assessors, translations, seminars…

8. Conclusion Accreditation is a living activity