International Recognition

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Why is it necessary for a Regional Accreditation Cooperation to have recognition with Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated (ILAC/IAF merger)

A Regional Accreditation Cooperation requires formal recognition by the Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated (ILAC/IAF merger) to join the international conformity assessment system. This recognition is essential to ensure the confidence, validity and international acceptance of the accreditations issued by the member bodies of the regional cooperation.

Recognition of technical authority to manage regional agreements

Recognition by Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated (ILAC/IAF merger) gives the regional cooperation the delegated authority to:

This function is described in the IAF/ILAC A1 document, which defines the evaluation and recognition process for regional cooperations.

RECOGNITION BY THE GLOBAL ACCREDITATION COOPERATION INCORPORATED (ILAC/IAF MERGER).

Is essential for regional cooperation:

You can technically assess your members and manage internationally valid MRAs/MLAs.
Provide accreditation bodies in your region with a legitimate path to global recognition.
Ensure technical confidence, integrity and international acceptance of accredited conformity assessment results.

Without this recognition, a regional cooperation cannot participate in the international accreditation system or offer its members the benefits of international acceptance of its services.

Integration into the global accreditation recognition system

Only a recognized regional cooperation can be an active part of international mutual recognition agreements, which allows:

Accreditations granted by its members are accepted internationally.
The principle of “accredited once, accepted everywhere” applies.

Pathway for national bodies to international recognition

In order for an accreditation body to join the international recognition arrangement, it generally must:

First be evaluated and accepted within a recognized regional cooperation.
Meet internationally defined technical and management requirements.

Rigorous evaluations and continuous improvement

Recognition is not permanent: it requires regional cooperation:

Undergo initial and periodic evaluations (every four years).
Meet technical and governance requirements set out in documents such as IAF/ILAC A2.

Currently recognized regional cooperations

The following regional cooperations are officially recognized by the Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated (ILAC/IAF merger):

IAAC – Inter American Accreditation Cooperation
APAC – Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation
EA – European co-operation for Accreditation
ARAC – Arab Accreditation Cooperation
AFRAC – African Accreditation Cooperation
SADCA – Southern African Development Community Accreditation Cooperation.

MLA/MRA RECOGNITION LEVELS (IAF/ILAC)

Level 1

ISO/IEC 17011 | Criteria for accreditation bodies

Level 2

Accreditation activities : (e.g. testing, certification, inspection)

Level 3

International assessment standards | (e.g., ISO/IEC 17025, 17020, 17065, 17029)

Level 4

Industry-specific normative documents (e.g. ISO 22003-1, ISO 14065, ISO 27006)

Level 5

Standards applied by the OECs (e.g. ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 50001)

APPLICATION OF THE LEVELS

IAF/ILAC A1 applies to the assessments of regional cooperations, responsible for ensuring that their members comply with the equivalent levels.

IAAC PR 025 adopts this same structure and formalizes how the IAAC MLA is expanded based on applications, technical studies, and evidence of competencies across these levels.

MLA/MRA LEVELS (BASED ON IAF/ILAC AND PR 025)

Level	Description	Key examples
Level 1	Requirements for accreditation bodies. Base standard of the system.	ISO/IEC 17011
Level 2	Accreditation activities that the body demonstrates it can operate.	Testing, inspection, certification, validation / verification
Level 3	Assessment standards applicable to each type of conformity assessment body (CAB).	ISO/IEC 17025, 17020, 17065, 17024, 17029, 15189
Level 4	Industry-specific normative documents complementing Level 3 standards.	ISO 22003-1, ISO 14065:2020, ISO 27006, FSSC 22000
Level 5	Standards used directly by accredited CABs, applicable to products or systems.	ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 50001, ISO 45001

IAAC AND ITS INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

International Recognition: IAAC as a Regional Cooperation recognized by Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated (ILAC/IAF merger).

The Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC) is formally recognized by the Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated (ILAC/IAF merger) and actively participates in the following international agreements:

ILAC MRA – https://ilac.org/ilac-membership/members-by-category/
IAF MLA – https://iaf.nu/en/member-details/?member_id=7

These agreements guarantee the global acceptance of accredited results issued by IAAC member bodies.

ILAC MRA: ILAC Mutual Recognition Agreement

The ILAC MRA is an international agreement that allows mutual recognition of results issued and global acceptance of reports in the following areas:

Calibration laboratories
Testing laboratories
Clinical laboratories
Inspection bodies
Reference material producers
Biobanks

Evaluation for recognition

Formal recognition of a regional cooperation under the ILAC MRA is granted after a rigorous evaluation of its technical and operational competence by a team of independent peer evaluators appointed by ILAC. This evaluation verifies the cooperative’s ability to manage a regional MRA in accordance with international requirements.

TIMELINE OF IAAC RECOGNITION AT ILAC MRA

Scope	Standard applied	Date of recognition
Testing laboratories	ISO/IEC 17025	November 12, 2006
Calibration laboratories	ISO/IEC 17025	November 12, 2006
Clinical laboratories	ISO 15189	November 12, 2006
Inspection bodies	ISO/IEC 17020	October 24, 2012
Providers of aptitude tests	ISO/IEC 17043	June 21, 2020
Producers of reference materials	ISO 17034	June 21, 2021

IAF MLA: MULTILATERAL AGREEMENT FOR THE RECOGNITION OF IAFS

The IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) is an international agreement that allows mutual recognition of certificates and reports issued by accredited bodies, including:

Certification of management systems (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, among others)
Certification of products, processes and services
Certification of persons
Verification and validation of declarations and information, according to ISO/IEC 17029

This recognition promotes trust between countries, avoids duplication of audits or certifications, and supports technical regulations, public policies and international contracts.

TIMELINE OF IAAC RECOGNITION AT THE ILAC MRA

Scope	Standard applied	Date of incorporation to IAF MLA
Management systems	ISO/IEC 17021-1	November 12, 2006
Products, processes and services	ISO/IEC 17065	May 05, 2011
People	ISO/IEC 17024	November 04, 2024
Verification and validation	ISO/IEC 17029	November 04, 2024