was established on 1 January 2019 as a global accreditation cooperation body dedicated to strengthening and harmonizing accreditation practices worldwide.
IAA is an international accreditation cooperation and is recognized by leading global organizations concerned with accreditation, conformity assessment, and international trade facilitation.
Role of IAA
IAA’s primary role is to manage and expand a Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) among accreditation bodies internationally.
The MRA facilitates the acceptance of conformity assessment results (e.g. test reports, test certificates, inspection reports, and certifications) across different regions around the world.
Conformity assessment results produced by conformity assessment bodies (CABs) accredited by one IAA MRA signatory are accepted by all other IAA MRA signatories.
This mutual recognition reduces the need for duplicate testing, inspection, or certification, thereby saving time and costs, increasing economic efficiency, and facilitating international trade.
IAA’s members include accreditation bodies, accreditation focal points, and other organizations with an interest in accredited conformity assessment results.
IAA cooperates with international and regional economic and standards organizations to support global harmonization of standards and conformity assessment systems.
Vision, Strategic Purpose & Mission
IAA’s direction and purpose as an international accreditation cooperation.
IAA VISION
(The view of the future)
IAA’s Vision is that:
- Conformity assessment activities accredited by IAA Full Members are accepted globally as a foundation for trade facilitation, sustainable development, enhancement of welfare, health and safety, and environmental protection.
- All economies worldwide have an IAA Full Member actively participating in IAA initiatives.
- IAA Members contribute to the prosperity of their economies and support balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative, and secure growth.
STRATEGIC PURPOSE
(The reason for IAA’s existence)
IAA’s strategic purpose is to provide formal international recognition of accreditation bodies in order to facilitate the global acceptance of conformity assessment results issued by conformity assessment bodies accredited by IAA Full Members.
IAA MISSION
(What IAA must do)
To provide a global network for the formal recognition of accreditation bodies and the harmonization of accreditation practices worldwide.