International Recognition

By becoming signatory to the ILAC MRA and IAF MLA, a national accreditation body ensures that the conformity assessment results (test/calibration certificates, certifications, inspection reports) from laboratories, certification bodies and inspection bodies it has accredited are recognized by foreign accreditation bodies who are signatories to the respective MRA or MLA.

Accreditation is thus a tool for mutual recognition of conformity assessment results, thus enhancing international trade.

Use of ISO/IEC international standards for the operation of the AB and of the CABs facilitates the mutual recognition because the same requirements are fulfilled irrespective of the country.

Regional cooperation in the field of accreditation have taken shape in many regions and sub-regions, e.g. AFRAC, SADC, EAC, CROSQ, COMESA, UEMOA, ECOWAS, ARAC, IAAC, APLAC, PAC, EA, etc.

Some of these are cooperating under the aegis of sub-regional or regional treaties/protocols and thus have a legal basis, which they can use to mobilize funding and political support, e.g. ARAC, SADC, EAC, COMESA, UEMOA, EA, ECOWAS (AFRAC).

Others are cooperation entities fulfilling the role of mutual technical support and exchange.

Others are managing regional Multilateral Recognition Agreements with peer review of NABs and admitting them as signatories to the regional MRA/MLA, as a stepping stone to signatory status to ILAC or IAF, e.g. APLAC as a stepping stone to  ILAC.