Dr. Takashi Otsubo
IAF Chair (1998-2002)

The Global Context of Conformity Assessment Prior to the Establishment of IAF

In 2023, the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) celebrated its 30th anniversary. Prior to IAF’s establishment, the global landscape of conformity assessment underwent significant changes due to the following factors.

Development of Management System Standards

The initial version of the ISO 9000 series of standards was released by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 1987, and the ISO 14000 series of standards in 1995. In non-regulated sectors, product purchasers began insisting that suppliers establish their quality management systems and/or environmental management systems based on these standards, and that they be certified by a certification body (CB). Moreover, the CBs were required to adhere to specific requirements and undergo assessment by an independent, qualified entity now known as an accreditation body (AB). This demonstrated their competence and compliance with established requirements.

New Approach/Global Approach to Product Certification in Regulated Sectors

Before the New Approach, each country maintained its own safety authority responsible for consumer protection and occupational health and safety. This led to divergent regulations and conformity assessment processes among nations, resulting in duplicated assessments and technical barriers to trade (TBT). The New Approach, pioneered within the European Communities (EC), aimed to establish a unified market by (1) setting essential requirements for regulated products requiring protection and (2) creating harmonized voluntary standards related to technical specifications through CEN/CENELEC (standardization bodies for the EC). This approach facilitated the elimination of TBT within the EC, ensuring that products meeting the requirements could be freely traded across member countries. Additionally, the Global Approach to conformity assessment was introduced within the EC, which involved the development of a consistent approach for CE marking on products meeting essential requirements. This process included the formulation of standards for conformity assessment procedures by CEN/CENELEC. Confidence in conformity assessment bodies was bolstered by requiring demonstrations of competence and transparency, along with the introduction of an accreditation system for these bodies.

Establishment of WTO and the TBT Agreement

The signing of the Marrakesh Agreement in 1994 and the subsequent establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995 played a pivotal role in globalizing the principles of eliminating TBT. Annex 1A of the Agreement included the “Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT),” which laid out international principles for addressing TBT concerns.

The International Principles on TBT, as outlined in the TBT Agreement, were designed to promote equitable trade practices and facilitate global market access for products. These principles emphasized that imported products should be treated no less favorably than domestically produced items regarding technical regulations. The goal was to prevent discriminatory practices that hindered international trade.

Furthermore, the TBT Agreement encouraged the use of pertinent international standards in technical regulations and conformity assessment processes whenever available. This measure ensured that widely recognized international benchmarks served as the foundation for assessments, promoting consistency and simplifying processes for businesses and manufacturers.

These developments aimed to eliminate TBT, promote international standards, and harmonize conformity assessment procedures of CBs and ABs. By fostering transparency, non-discrimination, and the use of recognized international benchmarks, the international principles on TBT aimed to facilitate global trade, enhance consumer confidence, and elevate product quality and safety standards across borders.

Establishment of IAF

IAF’s creation marked a crucial milestone in the global conformity assessment landscape. At an inaugural gathering of worldwide ABs in 1993, participants shared their experiences and challenges, eventually agreeing to meet regularly and collaborate through the exchange of experience and information, with the aim of harmonizing accreditation. This laid the groundwork for the formation of the IAF.

When IAF was officially established as a legal entity in September 1998, it aimed to harmonize accreditation programs and procedures among its members and establish Mutual Recognition Agreements (MLAs) among members whose accreditation processes for designated programs had been assessed and confirmed as harmonized. This step was crucial in avoiding cross-border multilateral accreditation and streamlining processes.

Another significant role of IAF was to offer assistance to entities seeking to establish themselves as ABs. By sharing knowledge and expertise, IAF aimed to support the establishment of robust and competent ABs worldwide.

Furthermore, IAF played a central role in promoting its MLAs among ABs globally. These MLAs facilitated the recognition of each other’s accredited certifications, fostering trust and acceptance in the global marketplace. MLAs helped eliminate the need for redundant assessments and promoted international trade by encouraging acceptance.

I would like to take this moment to extend my congratulations for the ongoing accomplishments of the IAF and its members, while also expressing my genuine optimism for their future achievements.