IAF https://iaf.nu/en/home/

IAF (International Accreditation Forum) is on the various fields that Management System Certification, Product Certification, Personnel Certification through the conclusion of MLA (Multi-lateral Recognition Arrangement) between conformity assessment field accreditation bodies, it aims to eliminate technical barriers to trade that may arise.

The main function of IAF is to develop an international evaluation program that ensures the reliability of accredited certificates. CAB (Conformity Assessment Body) accredited from an accreditation body that has concluded MLA with IAF can provide eligibility and fairness to the members.

Members can be protected from its potential risks through it. In addition, IAF contributes to the promotion of global trade based on the basic principles of conformity assessment that aimed at so-called "Certified once-accepted everywhere" that can accept everywhere with a single conformity assessment and accreditation.

IAS https://www.iasonline.org/

IAS is a nonprofit, public-benefit corporation that has been providing accreditation services since 1975, and it is the leading International Accreditation Service of the USA.
International Accreditation Service (IAS) provides objective evidence that an organization operates at the highest level of ethical, legal and technical standards.

IAS accredits a wide range of companies and organizations including governmental entities, commercial businesses, and professional associations, and then IAS accreditation programs are based on accredited national and international standards that ensure domestic and/or global acceptance of its accreditations.

Also, IAS is a signatory to the three primary international organizations that form a unified system for evaluating and recognizing competent accreditation bodies worldwide. IAS maintains multilateral recognition arrangements signatory status of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF).
At the same time, IAF is a multilateral recognition arrangements signatory of Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC) and International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC).

By adhering to a common set of accreditation criteria, if organizations agreed to undergo a periodic onsite evaluation to assure if ongoing compliance with General Requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs), it is identified as “cooperation”.

Also, a “signatory” means that an accreditation body has been evaluated onsite at its offices, a sampling of the assessments of its accredited bodies have been witnessed by peer experts, and that it has been found to comply with international requirements.

These organizations agree to recognize the equivalence of accreditations granted by other signatory member accreditation bodies through a series of Mutual (or Multilateral) Recognition Arrangements (MRAs/MLAs).

Once an accreditation body becomes a signatory it is obligated to recognize the certificates or reports issued by conformity assessment bodies accredited by all other signatories within a specified scope.

IAS' vision is to protect lives and property through the accreditation of competent organizations providing services, products, and oversight worldwide, and IAS' mission is to provide the highest quality accreditation services for all concerned with public safety and sustainability through the principle of “One Test, One Inspection, One Certification Worldwide.”

IAS accredits a wide range of companies and organizations involved in conformity assessment activities such as testing, inspection, certification, fabrication, code compliance and enforcement. A pioneer in the accreditation profession, IAS actively developing new accreditation programs for organizations that wish to demonstrate the highest level of competence and service in their respective industries.

The accreditation criteria developed through public hearings conducted by the IAS Certification Committee provide guidance to all stakeholders to implement the performance and function of the standards mentioned in the accreditation criteria.

Most of all, International Accreditation Service (IAS) is committed to operating its accreditation programs and related services in compliance with ISO/IEC Standard 17011, national and international conformity assessment requirements and the needs and requirements of its customers.

And through regular internal audits, management reviews, customer surveys and other relevant measures, IAS maintains a consistent culture of quality, professionalism, and competence.

APAC https://www.apac-accreditation.org/

APAC (Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation) is an association of accreditation bodies and other stakeholders to promote trade and commerce in the Asia-Pacific region and it was established on January 1, 2019, by integrating two regional cooperative organizations: APLAC in testing and inspection and PAC in management systems and products.

Because APAC is accredited regional cooperation by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), most APAC MRA signatories are also accredited under the international IAF Multi-lateral Recognition Arrangements (MLA) and ILAC MRA.

APAC has been accredited as a Specialist Regional Body (SRB) by member states of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and at the same time, supports the work of the APEC Standards and Sub-committee on Standards and Conformance (SCSC).

Through the MLA conclude between accreditation bodies, Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC) is to achieve mutual recognition of the other alike conformity assessment system such as management system certification, product certification, personnel certification.

Ultimately, through the IAF, putting significance in that certificates issued by certification bodies designated as IAF member organizations can be accepted worldwide.

The main purpose of APAC is to facilitate the development of competent laboratories and inspection institutions within member countries, pursue harmony of accreditation tasks between regions. MRA facilitates the acceptance of conformity assessment results (e.g., test reports, test certificates, inspection reports, and certification) across the region and with other regions around the world.

Conformity assessment results that are produced by Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) that have been accredited by one APAC MRA signatory are accepted by all the other APAC MRA signatories. This mutual recognition and acceptance of conformity assessment results reduce the need to undertake duplicate testing, inspection or certification, thus saving time and money, increasing economic efficiency, and facilitating international trade.

The accredited conformity assessment results of these conformity assessment bodies are accepted across the Asia Pacific region, and internationally.

Currently, APAC has expanded MRA about inspection, ISO 15189 (Clinical testing) and Reference Material Producers (RMP) field in addition to testing and calibration fields. And APAC preparing standards to add recognition for a Proficiency Testing Provider (PTP) to the MRA scope.

Also, APAC operates active programs to exchange information between members, develop technical guidance documents, compare between testing institutions, train testing institutes evaluators, and develop procedures and regulations to conclude mutual recognition agreements.

APAC MRA promotes acceptance of conformity assessment results (e.g., management system certificates, test reports, test certificates and inspection reports) across different regions and regions whole of worldwide. Conformity assessment results produced by a Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) accredited by APAC MRA signatories are accredited by all APAC MRA signatories.

Due to this, mutual recognition and acceptance of these conformity assessment results support not only saves time and money by reducing the need for duplicate tests, inspections or certifications, but also increases economic efficiency and promotes international trade.