International Recognition

IAAC is a Regional Cooperation Body recognized by IAF and ILAC

ILAC Recognition

The Inter American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC) was accepted as a Regional Cooperation Body signatory to the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) for the scopes of Testing and Calibration Laboratories (under ISO/IEC 17025) and Medical Laboratories (under ISO 15189), as of November 2006.

IAAC was accepted as a Regional Cooperation Body signatory to the ILAC MRA for the scope of Inspection Bodies (under ISO/IEC 17020) as of October 2012.

IAAC was accepted as a signatory Regional Cooperation Body to the ILAC MRA for the scope of Proficiency Testing Providers (under ISO/IEC 17043) as of June 2020.

IAAC was accepted as a signatory Regional Cooperation Body to the ILAC MRA for the scope of Reference Materials Producers (RMP) (under ISO 17034) as of June 2021.

ILAC MRA recognition:

Main scopes:

Testing Laboratories - ISO/IEC 17025 - 12 November 2006

Medical Laboratories - ISO 15189

Calibration Laboratories - ISO/IEC 17025 - 12 November 2006

Inspection Bodies - ISO/IEC 17020 - 24 October 2012

Proficiency Testing Providers - ISO/IEC 17043 - 21 June 2020

Reference Materials Producers - ISO 17034 - 21 June 2021

IAF Recognition

IAAC was accepted as a signatory Regional Cooperation Body to the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), Multi-Lateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) for the main scope of Management Systems Certification Bodies (under ISO/IEC 17021-1) with subscopes for Quality Management Systems (QMS), Environmental Management Systems (EMS), Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS), Information Security Management Systems (ISMS), Medical Devices Management Systems (MDMS), Energy Management Systems (EnMS) and Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems (OH&SMS). The first subscope for QMS was accepted in November 2006 and the additional subscopes have been accepted at different dates as listed below.

IAAC was accepted as a signatory Regional Cooperation Body to the IAF MLA for the scope of Product Certification Bodies under ISO/IEC 17065 (with subscope Global G.A.P) as of May 2011.

In 2020, IAAC submitted an application to IAF to extend its MLA recognition to the scopes of Persons Certification Bodies and Green House Gases (GHG) Validation/Verification Bodies. The IAF evaluations for these scopes is in process.

IAF MLA recognition:

Main scopes

Product Certification - ISO/IEC 17065 - 05 May 2011
Management Systems Certification - ISO/IEC 17021-1

Sub scopes

Level 4
Product: GlobalG.A.P. IFA General Regulations - 22 May 2014
MS: ISO/TS 22003 - 05 Apr 2018
MS: ISO/IEC 17021-3 - 12 Nov 2006
MS: ISO/IEC 17021-2 - 05 May 2011
MS: ISO/IEC 27006 - 05 Apr 2018
MS: ISO 50003 - 18 Feb 2019
MS: ISO/IEC TS 17021-10 - 27 Oct 2020
Level 5
Product: GlobalG.A.P. IFA CPCCs - 22 May 2014
MS: ISO 22000 (FSMS) - 05 Apr 2018
MS: ISO 9001 (QMS) - 12 Nov 2006
MS: ISO 14001 (EMS) - 05 May 2011
MS: ISO/IEC 27001 (ISMS) - 05 Apr 2018
MS: ISO 13485 (MDMS) - 05 Apr 2018
MS: ISO 50001 (EnMS) - 18 Feb 2019
MS: ISO 45001 (OH&SMS) - 27 Oct 2020

International Recognition of IAAC

IAAC is a signatory to seven MLA/MRA main scopes with multiple subscopes, achieved after years of hard work undertaken by Accreditation Body members in the Americas who contributed their share to achieve this historic milestone. As a Regional Cooperation, IAAC is equivalent to the European Co-operation for Accreditation (EA), the Asia-Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC), the Arab Accreditation Cooperation (ARAC), and the African Accreditation Cooperation (AFRAC), who have also been granted Regional Body recognition by IAF and ILAC.

What does this mean to us as members of IAAC? We are recognized members of the international accreditation communities. We are expected to promote and abide by ILAC and IAF Arrangements and to participate in ILAC and IAF activities. There are numerous committees in both organizations that are working on activities of interest to our region. A visit to the IAF website at www.iaf.nu or the ILAC site at www.ilac.org will give you a background on each organization and lists of committees and contact information.

Congratulations to all IAAC members and thank you to all who have contributed to these accomplishments!

IAAC Promotions Subcommittee

IAAC program to promote the IAF Multi-lateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) and the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA)