IJCA Vol 5 Issue 1 - Flipbook - Page 64
The International Journal of Conformity Assessment
2026 | Volume 5, Issue 1
The Recent Incorporation of the Global
Accreditation Cooperation (Global ACI)
By Greg West and Karthik Easwar
GENERAL INFORMATION
DOI: 10.55459/IJCA/v5i1/GW.KE
In a press release the Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated (Global ACI) announced
the official start-off of this recently established organization that will replace the International
Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) whose
memberships decided unanimously to operate as a single organization. The official commencement
of its full operations, including the launch of its own Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MRA), has
been in effect as of 01 January 2026.
IAS, a signatory of both legacy organizations, will continue to be a full member of the new Global
Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated without changing its signatory status in all recognized
disciplines and areas covered by its current conformity assessment scopes.
Under the ILAC MRA, IAS had been recognized to provide accreditation services providing its clientele
with acceptance of testing, calibration, medical testing, proficiency testing provider and inspection
results worldwide. While the IAF MLA has enabled international acceptance of IAS accredited
certification of management systems, products, processes, and persons.
To continue with the same structure of governance the Global ACI, would continue relying on
recognized regional accreditation groups, such as APAC to be integral parts of the global architecture
under the Cooperation.
Why the IAF/ILAC replacement matters
For governments, regulators, industry
and consumers, accredited conformity
assessment results and certi昀椀cates must
be trusted and accepted across borders,
“bringing global trust for a better world”.
By replacing ILAC and IAF with a single
organisation, the global accreditation system
that underpins trade, safety and consumer
con昀椀dence will become simpler, more
ef昀椀cient and easier to trust. The formation
of Global Accreditation Cooperation
Incorporated will reduce duplication of
efforts, harmonise accreditation policies and
procedures and enable more consistent
application of standards across sectors and
borders.
What is changing
One organisation, one governance
framework. While the governance and
organisational structure of IAF and ILAC are
evolving through the formation of the Global
Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated,
continuity is being maintained in scopes
of accreditation and membership. The
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new organisation will bring a more uni昀椀ed
framework without changing the trusted
relationships or recognitions that regulators,
industry, consumers and the conformity
assessment community rely on.
One global Cooperation, one MRA.
The Global Accreditation Cooperation
Incorporated’s MRA will cover the scopes
previously recognised under the ILAC
Mutual Recognition Arrangement and the
IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement,
providing a single, clearer pathway for
mutual recognition of accredited conformity
assessment results.
What isn’t changing
Continuity of recognition. Existing
accreditations issued under the ILAC MRA
and/or IAF MLA will continue to be recognised
as arrangements transition to the Global
Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated MRA.
No service interruptions. Accreditation bodies
(ABs), conformity assessment bodies (CABs),
scheme owners and regional groups will
continue operating as normal through the
transition.
