IAAC held its Executive Committee meetings in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, in March 2020.  Representatives from accreditation bodies and conformity assessment organizations in the region attended IAAC’s beginning of the year meetings.

During its meeting, IAAC created a Working Group which is developing a new IAAC Strategic Plan for the 2020-2025 term to establish the goals and guidelines that the Cooperation will be aiming at for the next five years. 

The IAAC Multi-lateral Recognition Arrangement is the basis for operating equivalent accreditation systems in the countries of the region.  The MLA Committee created a Working Group to analyze the effectiveness of the MLA evaluation process indicators and suggest ways to improve them.  IAAC is carrying out efforts to improve the MLA process, to ensure that deadlines at every step of the process are met, to optimize the use of limited peer evaluator resources.

 

On March 13, 2020, IAAC members analyzed and made decisions regarding the COVID-19 outbreak and its potential impact for accreditation bodies and conformity assessment bodies in the region.  The IAAC MLA Committee agreed that IAAC shall follow the recommendations of the current and future statements issued by IAF and ILAC and posted on their websites regarding the COVID-19 outbreak.  The IAAC MLA Committee agreed that each Accreditation Body shall document how it will address the impact caused by the COVID-19 outbreak and the application of alternative assessment techniques to ensure the competence of accredited conformity assessment bodies.  The IAAC MLA Committee also decided that the accredited Conformity Assessment Bodies shall document how they will address the impact caused by the COVID-19 outbreak and the application of alternative conformity assessment techniques, in compliance with the guidelines established by the Accreditation Body.

IAAC Membership

IAAC currently has a total of 61 members, 24 of which are full members, 4 are associates and 33 are stakeholders.  Since last year, IAAC accepted 3 new Stakeholder members from Ecuador, Peru and Mexico.

IAAC MLA Signatories

IAAC has a total of 20 MLA signatory members from 17 countries.  The IAAC MLA continues to grow, 2 MLA Group members recently extended their MLA scopes. In August 2019, ONAC of Colombia was accepted as an MLA signatory for Medical Laboratories, Proficiency Testing Providers and Persons Certification. On January 20, 2020, the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation, (JANAAC), extended its MLA scope to include Inspection Bodies (ISO/IEC 17020). 

IAAC MLA recognition by IAF and ILAC

IAAC is a Recognized Regional Cooperation for the main scopes of Testing (including Medical) and Calibration Laboratories; Inspection Bodies; Management Systems Certification Bodies (with subscopes QMS, EMS, FSMS, ISMS, MDMS and EnMS), and Product Certification Bodies (with sub scope Global G.A.P). 

IAAC received peer evaluations from ILAC to extend its MRA recognition for the scopes of Proficiency Testing Providers (PTP) and Reference Materials Producers (RMP) in 2018 and 2019.  IAAC is currently waiting on the ILAC AMC decision regarding these scope extensions.  IAAC also submitted an application to IAF to extend its MLA recognition for the scopes of Persons Certification Bodies and Green House Gases (GHG) Validation/Verification. The IAF evaluations for these scopes are scheduled to take place before 2021.

The IAAC officers

The current key IAAC officers are:

Liliane Somma of OUA, Uruguay, IAAC Chair

Andrea Melo of Cgcre, Brazil, IAAC Vice-Chair

Elias Rafoul of SCC, Canada, IAAC Treasurer

Ferney Chaparro of ONAC, Colombia, as MLA Group and MLA Committee Chair

Robert Knake of A2LA, USA, as MLA Group and MLA Committee Vice-Chair,

Training

IAAC carried out a training workshop for new peer evaluators on ISO/IEC 17011:2017, in August 2019, in Mexico City, Mexico.  The Mexican Accreditation Body (ema) graciously hosted the workshop, which had 24 Spanish speaking participants from the region which were qualified as trainee peer evaluators. 

IAAC also carried out a training workshop for new peer evaluators on ISO/IEC 17011:2017, in October 2019, in Washington DC, USA.  The host body was ANAB.  14 English speaking peer evaluator applicants participated in the workshop and were qualified as trainee peer evaluators.

 

The Quality Infrastructure Cooperation of the Americas, (QICA) is a partnership of regional bodies with the objective of promoting the strengths of a Quality Infrastructure in the region of the Americas.  QICA includes a representative from the regional standards body (COPANT), the regional accreditation cooperation (IAAC) and the regional metrology body (SIM).  A QICA outreach event to Mexican regulators and government officials took place in August 2019 within the framework of the IAAC General Assembly and was hosted by ema, the Mexican Accreditation Body.  The event was attended by 21 persons.  The exchange of information was lively with issues raised on various topics such as risk assessment and how new technologies impact conformity assessment services.  The participants went away with a deeper understanding of the value that standards, measurements and accreditation can provide in supporting the work of government regulators.

IAAC Meetings

You are invited to attend the next IAAC General Assembly meetings to be held in Montreal, Canada, from August 14-21, 2020.    

 

On January 20, 2020, the IAAC MLA Group agreed via electronic ballot that the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC) is accepted as an IAAC MLA signatory for the scope of Inspection Bodies (under ISO/IEC 17020).

IAAC wishes to congratulate Sharonmae Shirley, JANAAC CEO, and JANAAC’s staff on this important achievement for the Jamaican accreditation system.

 

IAF and ILAC statements and IAAC decisions on the COVID-19 pandemic

March 16th, 2020.  The IAAC MLA Committee approved three resolutions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic at its meeting on March 13, 2020, held in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

 

IAF statement on the COVID-19 outbreak - March 4, 2020.

 

IAF/ILAC Statement on the transition to ISO/IEC 17011:2017 and the COVID-19 outbreak

 

ILAC statement on the COVID-19 outbreak - March 11, 2020.

 

IAF ID3: 2011 guidance document (IAF information document for the management of extraordinary events or circumstances that affect OAs, OECs and certified organizations).

 

IAF Frequently Asked Questions COVID-19 outbreak   

ILAC/IAF Video: "Accreditation in the Fight Against COVID-19"

ILAC Brochure: "Specifying Accreditation for COVID-19 Testing"

ABs and CBs can find the requirements on how to use information and communication technologies to support and maintain the integrity of the audit/assessment process in

IAF MD 4 (Mandatory Document for the Use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Auditing/Assessment Purposes)

 

COVID-19 situation reports can be found on the WHO website.  

 

 

Accreditation operates across all sector supply chains ranging from healthcare and medical devices, construction, energy, clothing and textiles, toys and electronics, IT and communications, to food safety and water supply. Accreditation offers a range of services that can add value and manage the potential risks in supply chains through the assessment of certification, inspection, testing, and calibration services. By demonstrating the competence, impartiality, and capability of these organisations, it underpins the credibility of goods and services, allowing procurement and supply chain managers to better manage their risks.

 

How does accreditation help ensure the safety of medical devices? ISO 13485 is the world’s most recognised medical device standard and ensures excellence in the provision of medical devices. Its primary objective is to facilitate harmonised medical device regulatory requirements by providing an effective solution to meet the comprehensive requirements for a quality management system. ISO 13485 provides a practical foundation for manufacturers to address regulations and responsibilities, as well as demonstrating a commitment to the safety and quality of medical devices. Accredited certification is used to assess conformity of medical devices against this standard.

IAAC meetings

 

IAAC held its General Assembly meetings in Mexico City, Mexico, in August 2019.  Over 60 representatives from 20 countries in the region participated in the week long meetings.

 

Main issues that were discussed:

IAAC position on the draft IAF MD X Criteria for the evaluation of conformity assessment schemes. The General Assembly reviewed the draft IAF MD X Criteria for the evaluation of conformity assessment schemes, and upon recommendation of the IAAC Technical Committee agrees that:

1. a) IAAC expresses its concern about changing the scope and nature of the document from that which was originally envisaged;
2. b) IAAC considers the document is only appropriate for reviewing conformity assessment schemes that may be endorsed by the IAF for reference in the IAF MLA, and should not be a mandatory document that applies at the level of Accreditation Bodies;

IAAC members are encouraged to vote in IAF against the draft document in its current form.

 

New OHSMS MLA subscope

The IAAC General Assembly launched the IAAC MLA for Occupational Health Safety Management Systems (OHSMS) Certification Bodies under ISO 45001.

IAAC is inviting members to apply for MLA scope extensions for this subscope.

 

IAAC Membership

IAAC currently has a total of 58 members, 24 of which are full members, 4 are associate members and 30 are stakeholders.  The amount of members has been stable and with no recent changes.  One CAB is currently in the process of submitting its application for Stakeholder membership in IAAC.

 

IAAC MLA Signatories

IAAC has a total of 20 MLA signatory members from 17 countries.  Even though the amount of signatories has not changed, it is worthy to note that every year there has been a steady increase in MLA scope extensions approved by the IAAC MLA Group. 

 

New IAAC MLA signatories

In August 2019, one IAAC MLA signatory extended its MLA scopes: ONAC of Colombia was accepted as an MLA signatory for Persons Certification Bodies, Proficiency Testing Providers and Medical Laboratories. 

 

IAAC MLA recognition by IAF and ILAC
IAAC is a Recognized Regional Cooperation for the main scopes of Testing (including Medical) and Calibration Laboratories; Inspection Bodies; Management Systems Certification Bodies (with sub scopes QMS, EMS, FSMS, ISMS, MDMS and EnMS), and Product Certification Bodies (with sub scope Global G.A.P).

IAAC submitted an application to ILAC to extend its MRA recognition for the scopes of Proficiency Testing Providers (PTP) and Reference Materials Producers (RMP). IAAC also submitted an application to IAF to extend its MLA recognition for the scopes of Persons Certification Bodies and Green House Gases (GHG) Validation/Verification.

During 2018 and 2019, an IAF and ILAC peer evaluation team has been carrying out the re-evaluation and MLA scope extension evaluations of IAAC.

 

The IAAC officers

The current key IAAC officers are:
Liliane Somma of OUA, Uruguay, IAAC Chair
Andrea Melo of Cgcre, Brazil, IAAC Vice-Chair
Elias Rafoul of SCC, Canada, IAAC Treasurer
Ferney Chaparro of ONAC, Colombia, as MLA Group and MLA Committee Chair
Robert Knake of A2LA, USA, as MLA Group and MLA Committee Vice-Chair, who was elected this August for a 2 year term.

 

IAAC Meetings
The next IAAC General Assembly meetings will be held in Montreal, Canada, from August 14-21, 2020.

IAAC held its Executive Committee meeting in Mexico City, Mexico, on August 13, 2019.  During its meeting, the Executive Committee reviewed the progress achieved on the 2016-2020 IAAC Strategic Plan.  A Working Group presented updates on the development of a new five-year IAAC Strategic Plan and a revised IAAC vision.  The latest IAAC internal audit findings and the corrective actions plan were reviewed.  The status of the redesign of the IAAC website with the support of SAE, Ecuador was discussed.  The 2019-2020 Training Plan presented by the Training Subcommittee was approved.  The Executive Committee noted the report provided by Maria Miranda of ONARC on the status of the Energy efficiency and renewable energy, Biodiversity and climate protection and Green Economy technical cooperation projects with PTB of Germany.

ODAC of Dominican Republic will host the next Executive Committee meeting to be held in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, from March 9-13, 2020.

 

IAAC held its beginning of the year meetings in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in March 2019.  These meetings which are shorter than the annual meetings include the Executive Committee, MLA Group, MLA Committee, Peer Evaluators Management Subcommittee, and the Stakeholders Committee. 

The IAAC Executive Committee held a half-day meeting to brainstorm ideas for a new IAAC Strategic Plan for 2020-2025. As a result of this meeting, a SWOT analysis was drafted and the discussions will continue during the next IAAC meetings.  The Executive Committee will make sure that the discussions at the regional level are in line with the discussions at the IAF and ILAC level.

 

The IAAC MLA Committee agreed on the evaluation criteria and methodologies to carry out documentary evaluations to confirm compliance with ISO/IEC 17011:2017, for those ABs that will not have an evaluation by March 2020.  A document was drafted regarding the use of IAF/ILAC A3, classification of findings, competence of personnel, evaluation of risks, and the accreditation cycle.

IAAC MLA Group meeting

IAAC has a total of 20 MLA signatory members from 17 countries.  Even though the amount of signatories has not changed, it is worthy to note that every year there has been a steady increase in MLA scope extensions approved by the IAAC MLA Group. 

 

In March 2019, four IAAC MLA signatories extended their MLA scopes:

 

ema of Mexico was accepted as an MLA signatory for Persons and Energy Management Systems Certification Bodies.  We congratulate ema for being the first IAAC MLA signatory in the region for Persons Certification.  

 

ANAB of USA was accepted as an MLA signatory for Medical Laboratories.

 

SCC of Canada was accepted as an MLA signatory for the scopes of Energy Management Systems (EnMS), Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS), and Medical Devices Management Systems (MDMS) Certification Bodies by self-declarations.

 

 

OAA of Argentina was accepted as an MLA signatory for Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS) Certification Bodies by a self-declaration.  

This year the IAF/ILAC mid-term meetings were held in the region of the Americas, in Mexico City, during the month of April 2019.