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A HISTORIC AGREEMENT between IEC, ILAC and IAF will help significantly reduce cost, time and complexity for the reassessment of certification bodies and testing laboratories that are accredited by IAF and ILAC Member ABs (Accreditation Bodies). One of the most important outcomes of the tripartite MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) that was signed in Shanghai, China, last month will be that henceforth a single reassessment, instead of three, will suffice and be accepted by all three bodies.
This type of cooperation agreement is unprecedented in the conformity assessment world and builds on years of collaboration between the IEC CA (Conformity Assessment) Systems, ILAC and IAF. It directly and positively impacts the certification bodies and testing laboratories that are accredited by IAF and ILAC Member ABs and operate as registered members of the relevant IEC CA System(s).
The three bodies have already put in place a pilot program to test this new approach, and have set-up a dedicated website (www.iec-ilac-iaf.org) to implement the tripartite Agreement.
Under the MoU a common Steering Committee was created and held its first successful meeting under the chairmanship of Pierre de Ruvo, IECEE Executive Secretary. Regina Robertson, ILAC AIC (Accreditation Committee) Chair has been named secretary. The Steering Committee will be responsible for developing cooperation strategies, providing support and dealing with project issues and deliverables.
ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation) is an international cooperation of laboratory and inspection accreditation bodies formed more than 30 years ago to help remove technical barriers to trade. ILAC counts as its members laboratory and inspection accreditation bodies representing more than 90 economies and regional organizations. ILAC provides a focus to develop and harmonize laboratory and inspection accreditation practices and to promote laboratory and inspection accreditation to industry, governments, regulators and consumers.
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