World Accreditation Day 2025: IAF and ILAC Celebrate the Role of Accreditation in Supporting SMEs
For World Accreditation Day 2025, IAF and ILAC will highlight how accreditation can support small and medium-sized enterprises.
Elevating Quality Infrastructure for Sustainable Development: Data as the Cornerstone of the IAF and UNIDO Collaboration
IAF and UNIDO are enhancing their partnership to strengthen quality infrastructure as a foundation for sustainable development by integrating IAF CertSearch into UNIDO’s QI4SD Index.
Interprivacy Certification Scheme Recognized Under IAF MLA
In February 2025, IAF formally endorsed the Interprivacy Certification Scheme (IP-CS.1) as a Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) sub-scope.
The International Institute of Welding and the Added Value of IAF
Welding is an essential technology in many manufacturing areas. Although the first applications were found on findings dated 5,000 BC, it became an industrial technology after WWI, and applications have expanded since the end of WWII.
Mutual Recognition Arrangements: A Cornerstone for Trade Facilitation Under AfCFTA
As Africa advances toward a more integrated trading landscape under the African Continental Free Trade Area, mutual recognition arrangements in accreditation and conformity assessment play a crucial role in ensuring the acceptance of testing, inspection, and certification results across borders.
Digital Monitoring, Reporting and Verification, With an Outlook on the Required Changes
Digital Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification, DMRV, can enhance the traditional MRV process through digital technologies. What considerations need to be made by the conformity assessment community for the use of DMRV?
Accreditation Versus Certification – Know the Difference and the Combined Benefits
Accreditation and certification work jointly to increase market access, build consumer confidence and provide various other benefits.
Strengthening IoT Cybersecurity Through Accredited Conformity Assessment
Ensuring the security of Internet of Things devices requires a comprehensive approach that combines technological innovation, best practices and trust mechanisms. In this context, voluntary conformity assessment programs have emerged as a strategic tool to complement government regulations.
Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) for Economic Activity Concentration in Colombia’s Conformity Assessment Infrastructure
Conformity assessment services, executed by the conformity assessment bodies accredited by the Colombian accreditation body ONAC, are crucial in strengthening Colombia’s productive sectors through certification, inspection, calibration, and testing services. This study provides a granular view of how conformity assessment services align with various sectors of the economy.
The Global Accreditation Experience Index
The Global Accreditation Experience Index is the first longitudinal dataset on accreditation. The data shows that developing economies are increasingly engaging in international accreditation, with some surpassing their counterparts with longer-established systems.
SOAC WAAS in Line with Member States’ Development Strategies in West Africa: The Case of the Agri-Food Sector
The agricultural sector plays a key role in the economies of the West African Economic and Monetary Union. As part of its policy to support the development policies at the national level, the West African Accreditation System has developed specific accreditation schemes for the agri-food sector.
ISO Standards: Ensuring Ethical and Safe AI Development Worldwide
AI is developing at a rapid rate. ISO standards are a human-centered approach making sure AI works for people, not the other way around.
Strengthening African Trade Through Accreditation: KENAS and ARSO Forge a Strategic Partnership
On 10th March 2025, the Kenya Accreditation Service and the African Organisation for Standardisation formalized a landmark collaboration to enhance trade and quality infrastructure across Africa.
EA Publishes MLA Report and Hosts Key Workshops
EA published its 2024 MLA Report, confirming 44 member signatories and growth in key scopes. It also hosted workshops on IT systems for accreditation bodies and on the Implementing Regulation EU 2024/2981.
SADCA Holds 29th General Assembly and Committee Meetings
The Southern African Development Community Cooperation in Accreditation held virtual committee meetings and its 29th General Assembly in March 2025.
ISO/IEC 27001 and NIST CSF: The Italian Project to Improve Cybersecurity With an Integrated Framework
Cybersecurity is a strategic priority for organizations in every sector. With the growing number of cyber threats and the increasing attention of institutions to data protection, companies must adopt solid management systems, preferably internationally recognized. In this context, a new “Reference Practice” (PdR) project was initiated in Italy.
ARAC Advances Regional Strategy and Capacity Building
ARAC has launched the development process for its 2026–2030 Strategy, setting a forward-looking vision for accreditation in the Arab region. As part of its capacity-building efforts, ARAC also hosted a regional training workshop on ISO/IEC 17029 and ISO 14065, strengthening the technical expertise of accreditation bodies.
AFRAC Holds Training Workshop on Decision Making Including the Role of the Task Force Group
The African Accreditation Cooperation conducted two half days’ virtual training from 14–15 January 2025 on Decision Making Including the Role of Task Force Groups.
Stakeholder Feedback on EAS Accreditation Process
In response to its mandate for continual improvement and stakeholder engagement, the Ethiopian Accreditation Service conducted a survey to gather feedback on the effectiveness, efficiency, and transparency of EAS’s services.
Advancing Digitalization and Automation in Construction Materials Testing
Digitalization and automated construction materials testing bring many benefits to construction projects, especially when a large number of samples need to be tested manually. The shift to adopt electronic test reports marks a crucial step toward a paperless culture in the testing and certification industry and also responds to the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s 2050 goal to achieve carbon neutrality.
Kenya Airways Advancing Aviation Safety and Industrial Excellence Through Accreditation for Non-Destructive Testing
Non-destructive testing plays a crucial role in ensuring the structural integrity and safety of critical components across industries. In a significant milestone for the aviation sector, the Kenya Accreditation Service has accredited Kenya Airways’ NDT Technical Department as a Type A Inspection Body under ISO/IEC 17020:2012.
IAF Outlook 