Accreditation is the process of providing recognition to an organisation for its competence in performing specific tasks. It involves the assessment of technical competence of organisations in providing conformity assessment service(s). Conformity assessment services include calibration laboratories, medical laboratories, testing laboratories proficiency testing, production of certified reference materials, testing, certification (management systems/ product/ personnel) and inspection.

Accreditation bodies are established in many economies across the word with the primary purpose of ensuring that conformity assessment bodies are subject to oversight by an authoritative body. 

International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) is the international organisation for accreditation bodies operating in accordance with ISO/IEC 17011 and involved in the accreditation of conformity assessment bodies including calibration laboratories (using ISO/IEC 17025), testing laboratories (using ISO/IEC 17025), medical testing laboratories (using ISO 15189), inspection bodies (using ISO/IEC 17020), proficiency testing providers (using ISO/IEC 17043) and reference material producers (using ISO 17034). Accreditation bodies, that have been peer evaluated by ILAC as competent, sign regional and international Mutual Recognition Arrangements (ILAC MRA) to demonstrate their competence. These accreditation bodies then assess and accredit conformity assessment bodies to the relevant standards. The arrangements enhance the acceptance of products and services across national borders, thereby creating a framework to support international trade through the removal of technical barriers.

ILAC works closely with the regional cooperation bodies involved in accreditation, notably EA in Europe, APAC in the Asia-Pacific, IAAC in the Americas, AFRAC in Africa, SADCA in Southern Africa, and ARAC in the Arab region.

Benefits of Accreditation

Accreditation is a tool for providing for the acceptance and recognition of conformity assessment results. Accreditation is now increasingly accepted worldwide as the most transparent and non-discriminatory mechanism to assure competency of conformity assessment service providers both in the voluntary and regulatory areas.

To industry, accreditation facilitates trade and eliminates the need for repetitive testing, certification and inspection.

To regulators accreditation provides a reliable and impartial basis for sound decision-making.

To conformity assessment service providers [testing/medical/calibration laboratories, certification bodies (management systems/product/personnel) and inspection bodies], accreditation is a means of demonstrating competency to clients. Accreditation is an effective marketing tool and a passport to submit tenders to contractors that require independent verified conformity assessment service providers.

To users of accredited services and consumers, accreditation is a guarantee for reliable, accurate and comparable conformity assessment results.  Accreditation increases reliability of products. 

Through the application of national and international standards, government, procurers and consumers can have confidence in the calibration and test results, inspection reports and certifications provided by accredited facilities.