Introducing IFS Food as an IAF-Endorsed Scheme
IFS joined IAF as an Association Member in 2020, and in 2023 signed an agreement with IAF for the inclusion of its IFS Food standard in the IAF MLA.
The Crisis of Multilateralism and the Role of International Organizations in Light of Multiregionalism
Through multilateralism, economies seek to achieve common goals, such as peace, security, economic development and environmental protection, through international negotiations, agreements and institutions. In recent years, multilateralism has been challenged by a number of factors, leading to a crisis in its functioning.
AIMM: Elevating Aerospace Quality Management Systems
IAQG has created and released a new program, AIMM, to help organizations move beyond compliance to the 9100 standard and improve the maturity of their quality management system.
IAF recognizes GLOBALG.A.P. Produce Handling Assurance Standard
IAF has recognized the GLOBALG.A.P. Produce Handling Assurance standard under the IAF MLA.
EU Ecolabel: Accreditation to Boost the Credibility of the Scheme
The EU Ecolabel was created in 1992 to promote products and services having a reduced environmental impact. Based on ISO 14024, the EU Ecolabel is founded on a life cycle approach which consists of analysing a product’s impact on the environment at each stage of its life.
Strengthening Road Safety in India with ISO 39001: A Landmark in Traffic Management
In the pursuit of safer roads and reduced traffic-related incidents, India has embraced international standards to bolster its road traffic safety management systems. One example is ISO 39001, which outlines the requirements for an effective and comprehensive road traffic safety management system.
Accredited Certification Providing Confidence in the Accessibility of Tourism and Sports
Accredia, the Italian Accreditation Body, has recently begun accrediting conformity assessment bodies under ISO/IEC 17065 for certifying the accessibility of tourist facilities.
China Issues New Regulation to Encourage Accreditation of Validation and Verification Bodies
To standardize the nationwide voluntary greenhouse gas emission reduction trading and related activities, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the State Administration for Market Regulation of the People’s Republic of China issued the Measures for the Administration of Voluntary Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Trading (Trial) in October 2023.
Latest Updates and Achievements at EA
EA has introduced an EA Communication Network, welcomed new members, published reports, approved an MOU for the European QI and released a video on the EU Emission Trading System.
Shaping Our Future: WAD 2024 Theme Highlights Accreditation’s Role in Tomorrow’s World
Each year on 09 June, IAF and ILAC celebrate World Accreditation Day alongside our members, partners, stakeholders and other organizations in the field of conformity assessment. The theme of WAD 2024 will be ‘Accreditation: Empowering Tomorrow and Shaping the Future.’
IAF Holds Its 37th General Assembly
IAF held its 37th General Assembly during the 2023 Joint IAF-ILAC Annual Meetings held from 06-15 November in Montreal, Canada.
Great Achievements
Xiao Jianhua, IAF Chair from 2015-2021, shares his thoughts on the evolution of the organization.
The International Accreditation Forum: Context and Establishment
Prior to IAF’s establishment, the global landscape of conformity assessment underwent significant changes due to the following factors. Former IAF Chair Takashi Otsubo describes the context and creation of IAF.
ARAC Holds its 11th General Assembly
ARAC recently held its 11th General Assembly in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Stakeholder Engagement at UKAS
UKAS adheres to the international standard for accreditation bodies, ISO/IEC 17011, to ensure impartiality in its operations. One of the key pillars of maintaining impartiality is through stakeholder engagement and outreach. By actively involving stakeholders in its policy and decision-making processes, UKAS ensures that diverse perspectives are considered, fostering a sense of trust and credibility in accreditation.
Joint Statement on Sustainability Assurance
IAF, in collaboration with ISEAL, UNDP, IIOC, IQNET, and TIC Council, is pleased to announce a groundbreaking joint statement on sustainability assurance. This collaborative effort aims to address urgent sustainability challenges by emphasizing the vital role of consensus-based standards and accredited conformity assessment in driving positive impact.
Role of Conformity Assessment in the Circular Economy
A circular economy creates shorter and closed loops of material and energy cycles, minimizing pollution and waste. Circularity is strived for at all stages of the supply chain, from production to consumption, including repair and remanufacturing, waste management, and secondary raw materials that are fed back into the economy.
IAF MLA Expands to Ten New Certification Schemes
In 2023, IAF has seen rapid growth in the IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA), with IAF Members endorsing ten new certification schemes as IAF MLA sub-scopes. These endorsements, which nearly double the number of sub-scopes in the IAF MLA, will enable mutual recognition of certificates issued by accredited certification bodies within each scheme.
IAF CertSearch: A Global Database for Verification of Accredited Management Systems Certifications
IAFCertSearch is gaining momentum and delivering significant value for various stakeholders. As IAF and its members continue to progress with digitisation, IAF CertSearch stands as a pivotal tool for the successful transformation of the accredited conformity assessment industry.
Enhancing ESG Transparency and Credibility: The Role of Accredited Conformity Assessment
The market’s demand for information on organisations according to parameters that are not only financial has gradually intensified since the 1990s. Independent and accredited third-party evaluation according to ISO/IEC 17029 can help to overcome reported misalignments and to ensure reliability in ESG ratings in the voluntary sector.
Reflections on 20 years of the ISO 9001 APG
2023 is the ISO 9001 Auditing Practices Group’s 20th anniversary. All of those who have been involved in the work of the APG can look back with pride at the global recognition and praise they have received by providing short, practical guidance to the auditing community.
IAF Outlook 