Pedro Castro Alves
IAF CABAC Chair

Through its current members, a representative group of 12 local, regional and global conformity assessment bodies’ (CABs) trade associations, the IAF CAB Advisory Committee (CABAC) aims to exercise a comprehensive contribution to the meetings and work of IAF working groups (WGs) and permanent committees.

The 2024 IAF/ILAC Annual Meetings held in Berlin were no exception. CABAC representatives attended virtually every meeting during the scheduled 10-day period. Naturally depending on Association Members’ availability and resources, this level of engagement requires, nevertheless, some coordination and alignment to ensure coverage, contribution and proper feedback.

It is important to understand that the CABAC is not a forum for promoting a CAB community “single voice” on IAF issues. On the contrary, the CABAC, when pursuing its role as established in IAF documentation, fosters a widely participative debate on the conformity assessment (and quality infrastructure) industry context, threats and opportunities, areas of concern and issues under development, notably when a relation to IAF’s purpose, scope and work is noted.

By means of such debate, that takes place through regular work sessions over the year, CABAC member representatives are better supported to address the challenges of the task they are bound to face, notably (but far from being limited to) when exercising co-convenorship of committees, WGs and task forces within IAF.

Ultimately, CABAC members’ effective participation and contribution enhances IAF work:

• Raising awareness and enabling better understanding of complex issues for all parties involved, thereby building on accreditation capacity to contribute effectively.
• Addressing stakeholder perceptions of risks and impacts, and helping to develop measures to increase benefits for accreditation bodies and all stakeholder groups, including the most vulnerable.
• Increasing the credibility, accuracy and comprehensiveness of the accreditation activities, drawing on diverse expertise, on local but also global markets, direct knowledge and practices.
• Striving for ideas coming from different sources and building on each other’s ideas as the fundamental baseline for improvement and innovation.
• Working together towards the point of consensus or shared motivation, helping accreditation bodies and stakeholders arrive at a decision and ensuring an investment in a meaningful work outcome.

The above becomes even more important when specific projects, developments or issues of concern are identified from the inputs (and changes) arising from new regulation, standardization bodies’ activity, coalitions and other stakeholders, or resulting from IAF itself.

This said, CABAC members’ focus during the Berlin meetings can be highlighted:

• Contribution to One Organization Project constitution and launch. CABAC representatives to the appointed Steering Committee, as well as within the IAF Executive Committee and General Assembly convey not only a message of support from the members but also the views on future governance and structure.
• Address developments in reference standards for conformity assessment activities, notably related to Management System and Product certification and Verification/Validation, as well as considering on-going work on the ISO/CASCO Toolbox.
• Progress on implementation of IAF policies, resolutions and mandatory documents, enabling an enhanced IAF governance and strategy and thereby leading to less conflict and easier implementation and enforcement.
• Progress on the consolidation of the CABAC itself, through promoting balanced membership (notably for local CAB associations) and ensuring adequate communication channels.

The Berlin meetings effectively resulted in accreditation bodies and stakeholders working together to progress on the basic principles of IAF, notably of independence, consensus, efficiency, confidence and integrity.

This said, please allow a more inspirational closing remark on the CABAC role: As we navigate an ever-changing landscape, the CABAC aims to stay relevant, not only when addressing today’s challenges but also laying the groundwork for a brighter tomorrow for people, organizations and the planet.