ACCREDITATION
The International Accreditation Forum (IAF) is the world association of Conformity Assessment Accreditation Bodies. The primary function of the IAF is to develop a single worldwide program of conformity assessment which reduces risk for business and its customers by assuring them that accredited certificates may be relied upon. Accreditation assures users of the competence and impartiality of the body accredited. Conformity assessment is defined as the demonstration that what is being supplied actually meets the requirements specified or claimed in an accreditation or certification.
The IAF members are a representation of the 83 government and semi-government accreditation bodies and industry associations. The IAF is made up of the Members, the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, and the Secretary. They all work together to achieve the goal of the IAF and reach their common trade facilitation objectives around the world. The highest level of authority in the IAF is the Members in a General Meeting.
The role of IAF
The primary purpose of IAF is two-fold. Firstly, to ensure that IAF accreditation body members only accredit certification bodies that are competent to issue certifications and are not subject to conflicts of interest. The second purpose of the IAF is to establish Multilateral Recognition Arrangements (MLA) between its accreditation body members.
Accreditation bodies are required to sign Multilateral Recognition Arrangements (MLA) which promote the acceptance of goods and services across international borders. The purpose of the MLA is to allow accreditations and the certificates issued by certification bodies to be recognised by the other members of the MLA. The MLA covers all accreditation bodies, thus eliminating the need for suppliers to be certified in each country where they sell their products or services. The objective is to promote the idea of “certified once, accepted everywhere.”
Benefits of IAF
The IAF MLA provides businesses that are procuring products and services with greater confidence in their consistency of quality and compliance. By requiring accreditation bodies to adhere to the MLA, the IAF works to reduce risks to businesses and its customers by ensuring that an accredited certificate may be relied upon anywhere in the world.
The IAF MLA also provides representation of an internationally recognized ‘stamp of approvalʼ to demonstrate compliance against agreed standards and requirements. Many government agencies have expressed their support for MLA and how much of an effective mechanism it is to have an internationally recognized system of standards. The IAF accreditation bodies, certification bodies, and certified organizations together provide a reliable international trade network. By removing trade barriers and expanding markets, companies, industries, and countries receive global economic benefit.
