Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation, A.C.
Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation, A.C.
Global ACI (Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated) is the new international authority in accreditation, created through the integration of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). This organization is responsible for the global oversight of accreditation of laboratories, as well as certification, inspection, and verification bodies, with the aim of advancing towards a more coherent, simplified, and harmonized international accreditation system.
Through this unified model, Global ACI ensures operational continuity and the validity of certificates, testing and calibration results, inspection reports, and other conformity results previously issued under the international accreditation framework. All these results maintain their international recognition throughout the transition period.
In this context, the Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC) continues to play a key role as a regional signatory to multilateral recognition agreements, representing the Americas and the Caribbean. Its membership in Global ACI reflects this strategic relationship and its commitment to a more integrated, reliable, and globally aligned quality infrastructure. For more information on this relationship, the IAAC institutional profile within Global ACI can be consulted here: https://global-aci.org/en/
The Asia-Pacific Cooperation on Accreditation (APAC) is the regional accreditation organization that brings together accreditation bodies from Asia and the Pacific, promoting the harmonization of practices, mutual recognition, and continuous improvement of conformity assessment systems in the region. IAAC maintains a strategic partnership with APAC, as regional member organizations of the ILAC and IAF multilateral agreements. This partnership translates into concrete actions, such as the development of joint assessments of accreditation bodies that belong to both regions. These assessments strengthen mutual trust, optimize resources, and ensure consistent application of international standards. Cooperation between IAAC and APAC contributes to the global integration of quality infrastructure and the promotion of international recognition of accredited results, benefiting the countries, economies, and industries of both regions.
The European Cooperation for Accreditation (EA) is the regional organization responsible for coordinating accreditation in Europe. It brings together the national accreditation bodies of the countries of the European Economic Area and plays a key role in ensuring the quality of products and services in European markets.
IAAC maintains a technical and strategic dialogue with EA as part of the international accreditation community recognized by ILAC and IAF. This relationship is key to strengthening mutual trust between regions, facilitating the recognition of accredited results, and aligning good practices in peer evaluations, technical training, and accreditation policies.
Collaboration with EA allows IAAC to actively contribute to the global harmonization of accreditation and consolidate its position as a regional benchmark in the Americas.
The African Accreditation Cooperation (AFRAC) is the regional organization that promotes the development and harmonization of accreditation systems in Africa. Its mission is to strengthen the quality infrastructure on the African continent by promoting international acceptance of the results accredited by its members.
IAAC and AFRAC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster interregional cooperation, the exchange of good practices, and technical collaboration. This agreement facilitates joint initiatives in peer reviews, assessor training, digital transformation, and participation in international forums.
Through this strategic link, IAAC reaffirms its commitment to the global strengthening of accreditation, regional integration, and the building of bridges of trust between the regions of Africa and the Americas.
The African Accreditation Cooperation (AFRAC) is the regional organization that promotes the development and harmonization of accreditation systems in Africa. Its mission is to strengthen the quality infrastructure on the African continent by promoting international acceptance of the results accredited by its members.
IAAC and AFRAC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster interregional cooperation, the exchange of good practices, and technical collaboration. This agreement facilitates joint initiatives in peer reviews, assessor training, digital transformation, and participation in international forums.
Through this strategic link, IAAC reaffirms its commitment to the global strengthening of accreditation, regional integration, and the building of bridges of trust between the regions of Africa and the Americas.
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The Arab Regional Accreditation Cooperation (ARAC) is the regional accreditation organization for Arab countries. Its mission is to develop a harmonized, efficient, and internationally recognized accreditation system that supports regional and international trade and contributes to the sustainable development of its member countries. The IAAC and ARAC maintain a formalized collaborative relationship through a memorandum of understanding (MoU), which promotes technical exchange, cooperation in capacity-building activities, and the creation of tools for the digital transformation of accreditation systems. This alliance reflects the shared commitment of both regions to a modern and efficient quality infrastructure, aligned with international standards.
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