1. INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITATION FORUM, INC.
“Certified Once, Accredited Everywhere”
Last Updated January 2012

2. The IAF vision
To develop a single, worldwide program of conformity assessment, which reduces risk for business, regulators and the general public by ensuring that accredited certification may be relied upon.

3. What is the IAF
The International Accreditation Forum (IAF) is a global association of;
Accreditation Bodies
Certification Body Associations
Industry associations
Other stakeholder organisations and scheme owners involved in conformity assessment activities in a variety of fields including management systems, products, services and personnel

4. The objectives of IAF
To maintain and develop a Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) between its Accreditation Body Members to ensure recognition of accredited certification between signatories.
To act as a global forum to bring together accreditation bodies and stakeholder groups to facilitate global trade.
To develop appropriate harmonization of conformity assessment best practice
To promote accredited conformity assessment by working with, and influencing, key international organisations and industry groups

5. The IAF MLA
The IAF MLA is a network of accreditation body members of IAF that have been deemed competent through a stringent peer evaluation process.
Signatories to the MLA will recognize as being equally reliable the certificates and/or reports issued by certification/registration bodies accredited by all other members of the MLA.
The IAF MLA provides businesses with assurance that equivalent overseas certification/registration bodies operate to the same standard as those in their own country.
There are two main scopes: Management Systems and Product Certification.
There are two sub-scopes for Management Systems:
Quality Management Systems (QMS) and Environmental Management Systems (EMS)

6. The IAF MLA
Certificates issued by organizations accredited by IAF signatories in the fields of management systems, products, services, personnel and other similar programmes of conformity assessment are therefore recognized and accepted throughout the world.
This acceptance removes technical barriers to international trade as businesses will not require multiple certifications.
This reduces time to market and well as additional cost to business.
The key to the MLA is the increasing global network of accredited conformity assessment bodies that are recognised as being competent by IAF signatories.

7. Regional Cooperation Bodies
The IAF MLA is structured to build on existing and developing regional MLAs/MRAs established around the world.
European Cooperation
for
Accreditation
(EA) (
Pacific Accreditation
Cooperation (PAC) (
Inter-American
Accreditation Cooperation
(IAAC) (
Southern African
Development
Community Accreditation
(SADCA) (
The IAF MLA recognises EA, PAC, IAAC

8. Coverage of the IAF MLA Last Updated January 2012 IAF MLA Signatories
IAF Members not yet Signatories
Last Updated January 2012

9. Status of the IAF MLA
There are 54 IAF MLA Signatories, representing 51 economies.
Main Scope
ISO/IEC 17021: 50 Accreditation Bodies and EA, PAC & IAAC
ISO/IEC Guide 65: 44 Accreditation Bodies and EA, PAC & IAAC
Sub-scope
ISO 9001: 50 Accreditation Bodies and EA, PAC & IAAC
ISO 14001: 43 Accreditation Bodies and EA, PAC & IAAC
Product: Nil
In Development
ISO ISO 13485
Certification of Persons ISO/IEC 20000
Last Updated January 2012

10. The international picture
Since its formation in 1993, IAF membership has increased, as has its influence with international organisations and trade bodies.
This is due to the growing complexity of international trade and the growth in number of third party conformity assessment bodies.
As a result, an increasing number of national economies have established accreditation bodies to maintain competence levels.

11. The international picture
By December 2010, at least 1, ISO 9001 certificates had been issued in 178 countries and economies.
At the same time, at least at least ISO 14001:2004 certificates had been issued in 155 countries and economies.
Worldwide number of ISO 9001
certificates
Worldwide number of ISO 14001
certificates
(Source: ISO 2010)

12. Types of IAF members
Membership of the IAF is separated into a number of categories:
Accreditation Body Membership
Open to Bodies conducting and administering programmes by which they accredit bodies for certification/registration of quality systems, products, services, personnel, environmental management systems of similar programmes of conformity assessment.
Association Membership
Open to other organizations involved in the use or implementation of certification/registration systems.
Special Recognition Organisations - Regional Accreditation Groups
Open to regional groupings of Accreditation Bodies whose aims include the maintenance of Regional Multilateral Recognition Agreements recognising the equivalence of their members' accreditations.
Partner Members and Special Recognition Organisations - Observer Members
IAF has extended recognition to a number of organisations with which it has a liaison relationship or which have been invited to be Observers

13. The IAF Structure

14. The IAF Structure
The General Assembly, consisting of IAF Members, represent the highest decision-making body.
The Board of Directors is responsible for developing broad policy directions for IAF and for ensuring that the work of IAF is carried out in accordance with policies approved by members.
The Executive Committee is responsible for the day-to-day work of IAF on the basis of decisions made by Members and directions by the Board of Directors.
The operations of all IAF Committees and Subordinate Groups are subject to the IAF General Procedures

15. The benefits of IAF
The development of the MLA underpins cross border trade through the acceptance of certifications. “Certified once, accepted everywhere”.
A support structure to lead the co-ordination of a consistent approach and the harmonisation of best practice.
The provision of a platform to exchange information and enable knowledge transfer.
Provision of technical assistance and development services to support developing countries to establish conformity assessment infrastructure.
Support to developing and emerging economies.
Links with ILAC, international standardization bodies and trade organisations.

16. The benefits of accredited certification
For Government:
Flexible alternative to Legislation
Facilitator of trade
An efficient enforcement / monitoring tool
For business:
Greater acceptance of products and services opening up market access
Avoid costs associated with multiple certifications
Gain access to the growing number of tenders which specify accredited certification
For Society:
Public confidence in goods and services, despite complex global marketplace
Minimises product failures or recalls

17. Business drivers
The main driver for seeking certification is internal business improvement (47%), customer requirement (32%), and to meet regulatory requirements (13%).
(Source: IAF internal survey 2011)

18. The value of certification
62% of respondents either agreed / strongly agreed that the certification body provided value for money.
83% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that certification had added value to their organisation.
(Source: IAF internal survey 2011)

19. The value of certification
17% of respondents stated that their certified status had led to a significant increase in sales. 32% reported a minor increase.
79% of respondents confirmed that certification helped to meet the requirements of regulators.
(Source: IAF internal survey 2011)

20. How to find an IAF MLA Signatory
A ‘live’ and complete list of signatories can be found on the IAF website at
Scan the code to access the list

21. The IAF MLA Mark
The IAF MLA mark can be used by accreditation bodies that are signatories to the MLA.
MLA signatories can license the MLA mark to use in conjunction with their own accreditation body symbol as shown below
Accreditation
Body Symbol
SAMPLE
QMS NO 01

22. The IAF MLA Mark
Businesses seeking certification will be able to see at a glance if the certification body issuing the certificate is accredited by an accreditation body that is a signatory to the IAF MLA. The certification body must include an indication as to which activity the accreditation is related.
As a result, businesses will benefit from having increased confidence, signified by the presence of the IAF MLA Mark, that requirements have actually been met.
Accreditation
Body Symbol
SAMPLE
QMS NO 01

23. Contact IAF www.iaf.nu IAF Secretariat, Elva Nilsen
28 Chemin Old Chelsea
Box 1811, Chelsea, Quebec
CANADA
J9B 1A0
+1 (613)

24. INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITATION FORUM, INC. www.iaf.nu