Each year on 09 June, IAF and ILAC celebrate World Accreditation Day (WAD) with our members, partners, stakeholders and other organizations in the field of conformity assessment. We’re excited to announce the theme for WAD 2023 as Accreditation: Supporting the Future of Global Trade.

Global trade is ready for a strong but uneven recovery after the shock of the pandemic, according to the World Trade Organization, and merchandise trade volumes are expected to grow while remote working helped to boost sectors like electronic goods.

Trade dynamics will be influenced by big trends: changes in trade barriers, innovative technologies, ethical business requirements, and climate change adaptation on the part of government and business.
 
This theme will showcase how accreditation and accredited conformity assessment activities support the ongoing global supply chain restructuring that continues to be a source of trade normalization as firms seek new markets and investment opportunities to build resilient and flexible supply chains. This is likely to reinforce long-term growth in multilateral and bilateral trade relationships and augment the value of the ILAC/IAF mutual recognition arrangements in promoting greater supply chain efficiency and resilience.

The theme encompasses a wide variety of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 1: No Poverty; SDG 2: Zero Hunger; SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being; SDG 5: Gender Equality; SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities; SDG 14: Life Below Water; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

IAF and ILAC will be releasing a joint statement by the IAF and ILAC Chairs, a brochure, a poster and a video for use in celebrations, and also hosting a virtual event on 09 June. Additionally, case studies and research on benefits that accreditation can provide in support of this theme are available on the Public Sector Assurance and Business Benefits websites.

We encourage everyone to celebrate with us online using the hashtag #WAD2023, to attend our virtual event and to contact your local accreditation body for further details on local media and online seminars and programs they may be organising. A list of IAF Members is available here, and a list of ILAC Members is available here.
 
Follow IAF (@IAF_Global) and ILAC (@ILAC_Official) on Twitter, and IAF on LinkedIn (International Accreditation Forum Inc) for the latest updates.