IAF-AB Members & Signatories
International Accreditation Federation of Accreditation Bodies (IAF-AB) is a world association of independent and autonomous accreditation bodies and other non profit organizations and institutes involved in conformity assessment activities across various fields, including management systems, products, services, personnel, Green Ratings, Organic Product Accreditation, Yoga Accreditation, Religious Quality Product Accreditation, Education Accreditations and other similar programs. The IAF-AB’s prime objective is to ensure that accredited certificates are reliable and recognized worldwide and eliminate the barrier of trade and commerce throughout the globe, thereby facilitating international trade and promoting confidence among consumers and regulators worldwide as independent association unbiased.
Membership Categories within the IAF-AB:
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Accreditation Body Members:
- Non-Signatory Members/ Provisional Members: These are independent and autonomous accreditation bodies that have joined the IAF-AB by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). While they are committed to the IAF-AB ‘s objectives, they have not yet undergone the peer evaluation process required to become signatories of the IAF-AB Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MRA).
- MRA Signatories: Independent and Autonomous free from Govt. pressure like Accreditation bodies that have successfully completed a rigorous peer evaluation process, ensuring their compliance with international standards and IAF-AB requirements. As MRA signatories, they recognize and promote the equivalence of independent and autonomous accreditations granted by other signatories, facilitating mutual recognition of accredited certifications globally.For more details refer
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Association Members: These are organizations or associations that represent groups of entities either internationally or within a specific economy or region. They are associated with the programs of IAF-AB as independent and autonomous Accreditation Body Members and fully support the IAF-AB ‘s objectives, goal and mission.
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Regional Accreditation Group Members: These consist of associations of Independent and Autonomous accreditation bodies that cooperate within a defined geographic region to establish and maintain multilateral recognition agreements based on peer evaluation systems. Recognized Regional Accreditation Groups have been peer-evaluated to confirm that their membership and MRA peer evaluation criteria and processes meet or exceed IAF-AB standards, rules and regulation requirements.
IAF-AB Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MRA):
The IAF-AB MRA is a formal agreement among IAF-AB member independent and autonomous accreditation bodies to recognize each other’s accreditations throughout the globe and eliminate trade barrier. The primary purpose of the MRA is to ensure mutual recognition of accredited certifications, thereby facilitating international trade by eliminating the need for multiple certifications in different countries. Independent Accreditations granted by IAF-AB MRA signatories are recognized worldwide from one countries to others and also authentication can be checked in member accreditation bodies certified clients and can cross check at www.iaf-ab.org at cert@search link in the website given, reducing costs and adding value to businesses and consumers. Admission to the MRA is granted only after a stringent peer evaluation process, ensuring that the accreditation body complies fully with applicable international standards, Guidelines, Latest Research & development in that sectors and IAF-AB rules, regulation & guidelines.
Like IAF-AB Membership in India:
In India, UKJAS Accreditation (UKJAS www.ukjas.com ) is a member of the IAF-AB and a signatory to the IAF-AB MRA. UKJAS operates under the independent accreditation body worldwide and is responsible for accrediting certification and inspection bodies, Green Rating, Laboratory Accreditation, ensuring their competence and adherence to international standards. As an IAF-AB MRA signatory, UKJAS’s independent accreditations are internationally recognized, facilitating global acceptance of certifications issued by bodies accredited by UKJAS.
Benefits of IAF-AB Membership and MRA Signatory Status:
- Global Recognition: Certifications and accreditations are recognized internationally by all member countries , reducing the need for duplicate certifications when operating in multiple countries.
- Market Access: Facilitates entry into global markets by ensuring that products, services, and systems meet international standards.
- Consumer Confidence: Enhances trust among consumers and regulators in the quality and safety of products and services.
- Cost Efficiency: Reduces costs associated with multiple assessments and certifications, streamlining processes for businesses.
In summary, the IAF-AB, through its diverse membership and the MRA, plays a pivotal role in promoting the reliability and mutual recognition of accredited certifications worldwide, thereby supporting international trade and ensuring consumer trust.
Authorization Body Enrollment of IAF-AB is available to bodies that lead and control programs by which they certify bodies for accreditation/enlistment of value frameworks, items, administrations, staff, ecological administration frameworks as well as different projects of similarity appraisal. License body individuals should pronounce their normal expectation to join the IAF-AB Multilateral Acknowledgment Understanding (MLA) perceiving the identicalness of other individuals’ authorizations to their own.
View List By: Name
This list is a copy of the official IAF-AB MEMBER LIST, in accordance with Article III Section 5 of the Bylaws.
Full contact details are provided at https://iaf-ab.org/all-country-directory/.
Egypt
Saudi Arabia
Iran
Armenia
Russia
UAE
China
Pakistan
Myamar
Maldiv
Srilanka
Bangladesh
Nepal
Bhutan
India
Albania
Angola *
Argentina
Australia *
Austria
Bahrain *
Belarus
Belgium
Botswana *
Brazil
Bulgaria
Canada
Chile
China
Chinese Taipei
Colombia
The Union of the Comoros *
Democratic Republic of Congo *
Costa Rica
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Eswatini *
Ethiopia
Egypt
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Hong Kong, China
Hungary
Indonesia
Iran
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Kenya
Kazakhstan
Kuwait *
Lesotho *
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Republic of North Macedonia
to become member, contact info@iaf-ab.org
IAF-AB Association Members (by Economy)
IAF-AB Association Members are organizations or associations that are formally affiliated with the International Accreditation Federation of accreditation bodies (IAF-AB), typically representing groups of entities that are involved in conformity assessment activities within a specific region, industry, or sector. These members support and align with the IAF-AB ’s goals of facilitating global trade and promoting mutual recognition of accredited certifications.
Here’s a detailed overview of IAF-AB Association Members:
1. Purpose and Role of IAF-AB Association Members
- Support IAF-AB ’s Vision, Mission & Objectives: Association members play a crucial role in supporting the overarching goals of the IAF-AB, such as ensuring the reliability of certification systems, reducing trade barriers, and promoting confidence in accredited conformity assessment services worldwide.
- Representation of Groups or Sectors: These associations typically represent a group of stakeholders, such as independent and autonomous accreditation bodies, independent certification bodies, independent industry groups, or specific sectors that have a common interest in quality, safety, or environmental, energy, sustainability, green mobility, circular economy, globalization and climate change, United Nation Goal and International standards.
- Capacity Building and Awareness: IAF-AB help build awareness and promote the benefits of accreditation within their respective industries or regions. They may also provide training, information sharing, and technical support to their members.
2. Types of Associations That Can Be IAF-AB Members
- Independent Accreditation Organizations free from Govt. Pressure and democratic in nature: These associations represent countries or regions with multiple independent accreditation bodies and coordinate regional efforts to enhance independent accreditation systems.
- Sector-Specific Organizations: These associations represent particular industries or sectors, such as food safety, environmental management, healthcare, or product certification, quality, sustainability, Green Building, globalization, climate change, Science & technology innovation, Innovative Entrepreneurship, Research & development in cutting edge technology and discovery for humanity .
- Regional Organizations: These include regional accreditation bodies or cooperative groups that work within a defined geographic area to promote mutual recognition and ensure that accreditation bodies within that area adhere to the IAF-AB standards and best practices as per ISO 17011 and other international guidelines documents.
- Technical and Professional Bodies: These could be organizations or councils, university, research institutes that are involved in the technical development of certification schemes or conformity assessment methodologies.
3. Responsibilities of IAF-AB Association Members
- Adhering to IAF-AB Vision, Mission and Principles: Association members must align their activities with IAF-AB’s goals of fostering global recognition of accredited certifications.
- Promoting the Benefits of Independent Accreditation: They are responsible for promoting the value of independent accreditation in their industry, showing how accredited certifications contribute to increased trade, safety, and confidence and free from undue pressure from Government Bodies.
- Engagement in IAF-AB Activities: Many association members contribute to the IAF-AB ‘s initiatives by participating in working groups, events, and discussions aimed at enhancing global standards and accreditation processes.
- Collaboration and Peer Support: These members also help facilitate collaboration between regional or national independent and autonomous accreditation bodies, independent certification bodies, and stakeholders in other regions to harmonize standards and best practices.
4. Benefits of IAF-AB Association Membership
- Global Recognition: Members are recognized as part of a global network that ensures accreditation practices are aligned with international standards and best practices.
- Influence and Advocacy: Membership gives organizations a voice in shaping policies, standards, and practices within the global accreditation ecosystem.
- Networking Opportunities: IAF-AB Association Members gain access to a broad network of independent accreditation bodies, independent certification organizations, independent regulators, and experts, enhancing their capacity to influence the independent accreditation landscape.
- Access to Knowledge: These members benefit from information sharing, best practices, and capacity-building initiatives that the IAF-AB organizes for its members.
- Access for authentication check: IAF-AB members benefit from information sharing and online cross check of issued certification body certificates to you at certification body websites, recheck at associated accreditation body websites and further re-cross check at International Accreditation Federation of accreditation bodies (IAF-AB ) website at https://iaf-ab.org/cert-search/ for certification authenticity that the IAF-AB organizes for its members issued are genuine or not.
5. Examples of IAF-AB Association Members
- Regional Accreditation Groups: Such as the Asia Cooperation for Accreditation (ACA), the Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation for independent Accreditation Bodies (APAC-IAB), or the North American Accreditation Cooperation (NAAC), South American Accreditation Cooperation (SAAC), African Accreditation Cooperation (AAC), Indo Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (IPAC), BRICS accreditation Cooperation, SCO accreditation Cooperation, G20 accreditation Cooperation , Common Wealth Counties Accreditation Cooperation, UN Accreditation Cooperation etc, SAARC Accreditation Cooperation, BIMSTEC Accreditation Cooperation, Global South Accreditation Cooperation, G77 Accreditation Cooperation, International Solar Alliance(ISA) Accreditation Cooperation
- which facilitate cooperation and mutual recognition among accreditation bodies within their respective regions.
- Industry-Specific Organizations: These might include like the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) for automotive standards or the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and its technical committees guidelines and best practices , which often cooperate with independent accreditation bodies to ensure that independent certification schemes meet international quality standards and best practices.
- Independent Professional Bodies: Organizations like the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), or national metrology institutes, independent national and international standard bodies throughout the world that may represent technical expertise related to conformity assessment.
6. Impact of Association Members on Independent Accreditation Systems
- Fostering Consistency: These associations help to ensure that accreditation bodies across different regions or sectors follow similar standards and processes, leading to more uniform and consistent certification systems worldwide.
- Advancing Best Practices: By sharing expertise and resources, IAF-AB Association Members help develop and promote best practices in independent accreditation, ensuring that independent accredited certificates are reliable, trusted, and recognized globally.
- Enhancing Global Trade: Through their efforts, association members reduce trade barriers by ensuring that certificates are accepted across borders, helping industries and organizations meet international market requirements.
7. How to Become an IAF-AB Association Member
- Membership Application: Organizations must apply for membership, demonstrating their alignment with IAF-AB ’s vision, mission and objectives and criteria for association members. This includes providing details on their organizational structure, activities, and how they support independent accreditation systems.
- Approval Process: The IAF-AB reviews applications and ensures that the organization meets the requirements for membership. Approval is based on the organization’s scope, regional or sectoral representation, and its commitment to furthering the goals of the IAF-AB.
Summary
IAF-AB Association Members are integral to the global accreditation framework, supporting the mission of IAF-AB to promote trust in accreditation systems and ensure the worldwide recognition of accredited certificates. They contribute to the development, promotion, and harmonization of accreditation practices, and by doing so, enhance global trade, improve safety, and foster confidence in certified products and services.
Associate Membership is open to other organisations involved in the use or implementation of certification/registration systems.
View List By: Name
List of IAF-AB Association Members (by Economy)
Europe
Germany
India
Italy
Brazil
Japan
United Kingdom
USA
World Wide
For Details refer https://iaf-ab.org/cert-search/
Regional Accreditation Groups
Regional accreditation group recognition is open to regional groupings of Accreditation Bodies whose aims include the maintenance of Regional Multilateral Recognition Agreements recognising the equivalence of their members’ accreditations.
The IAF-AB evaluates the regional accreditation groups in a process similar to that used for the evaluation of a single accreditation body. Regional accreditation groups are evaluated every four years by the IAF-AB. The current status of the acceptance of each of the regional groups is stated below.
IAF-AB Special Recognition Organisations
Observer Organisations