IAAC MLA

Accreditation bodies are entities responsible for assessing and granting accreditation to organizations that perform conformity assessment activities, such as testing and calibration laboratories, inspection bodies, certification, verification, and validation bodies, among others. Their main role is to confirm that these organizations comply with international standards, as well as with IAAC, IAF, and ILAC policies, and that they have the necessary technical competence to operate reliably for the benefit of society.
An accreditation body may be recognized under a Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) for one or more specific activities, referred to as scopes of accreditation. These agreements do not constitute a generic recognition; rather, they are granted exclusively for the activities for which the body has demonstrated technical competence. For this reason, it is important to review the Full Members section to identify the scope recognized by IAAC for each accreditation body.

This mutual recognition is possible because all MLA signatories must demonstrate, through rigorous peer evaluations, that they operate in accordance with internationally accepted standards, impartially, with technical competence, and in compliance with the applicable international requirements.

Thanks to the IAAC MLA, an organization accredited by a member body has its accreditation recognized and accepted in all countries that are part of the arrangement, thereby facilitating trade, building trust, and promoting international cooperation.