The Accreditation System in the European Union

The legal framework for accreditation in the European Union is established by Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council, which sets out the legal basis for the organisation and functioning of the accreditation system as an instrument for ensuring confidence in the competence of conformity assessment bodies. The Regulation defines accreditation as an activity carried out in the public interest and as an integral part of the European quality infrastructure.

In accordance with the Regulation, each Member State shall designate one national accreditation body entrusted with the accreditation of conformity assessment bodies. A national accreditation body must operate on a non-profit basis, act objectively and impartially, function independently of conformity assessment bodies, employ a sufficient number of competent personnel and carry out its activities free from commercial pressures. It shall not provide services performed by conformity assessment bodies, nor compete with other national accreditation bodies.

Member States are required to ensure that national accreditation bodies are provided with adequate resources and conditions to perform their tasks effectively, including participation in the European accreditation system.

In order to ensure the consistent application of harmonised accreditation standards and the mutual recognition of conformity assessment results throughout the European Union, the Regulation establishes a system of peer evaluation of national accreditation bodies. Through this mechanism, the equivalence of national accreditation systems is confirmed and confidence in the results issued by accredited conformity assessment bodies within the single European market is strengthened.

The text of Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 is available on the official EUR-Lex website.

The European co-operation for Accreditation (EA) is designated by Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 as the organisation responsible for the establishment, coordination and development of the accreditation system at the European level. Its primary role is to build confidence in accredited conformity assessment results throughout the European Union and the European Economic Area.

EA fulfils this role primarily through the Multilateral Agreement on accreditation (EA MLA), which confirms the mutual equivalence of established national accreditation systems and thereby indirectly ensures the mutual recognition of reports and certificates issued by accredited conformity assessment bodies. The Agreement is based on common rules and procedures developed by EA, the application of which is mandatory for all national accreditation bodies that are signatories to the EA MLA.

EA is a non-profit organisation comprising national accreditation bodies of the Member States of the European Union, the countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), candidate and potential candidate countries for EU membership, as well as countries neighbouring the European Union, in accordance with established membership rules and statuses. Its organisational structure includes governing bodies such as the General Assembly, the Executive Board and the Technical Management Board, while specialised committees coordinate peer evaluation activities and develop technical rules and guidance in specific areas of accreditation.

Further information on the organisation, structure and activities of the European co-operation for Accreditation is available on the official EA website.

The Accreditation System at the Global Level

Prior to 1 January 2026, the international accreditation framework was underpinned by two global accreditation bodies: the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), which administered multilateral recognition arrangements across different areas of accreditation.

ILAC was responsible for the accreditation of testing, calibration and medical laboratories, inspection bodies, proficiency testing (PT) providers, reference material producers and biobanks, while IAF covered the accreditation of certification bodies for products, management systems and persons, as well as bodies performing verification and validation activities.

Upon completion of a multi-year integration process, a single international organisation Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated commenced operations on 1 January 2026, while ILAC and IAF simultaneously ceased their activities.

The consolidation of the previous structures established a unified framework for the governance of the global accreditation system, contributing to its simplicity, efficiency and transparency. This development reduces duplication of activities, harmonises policies and procedures, ensures the consistent application of international accreditation standards and further strengthens confidence in accredited results in international trade, public policy and consumer protection.

The establishment of this organisation also led to the creation of a single global Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MRA), which consolidates the former ILAC MRA and IAF MLA agreements. Continuity of previously developed accreditation schemes and mutual recognition has been ensured, as accreditations granted under the former ILAC MRA and IAF MLA remain valid during the transitional period.

Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated is a non-profit organisation registered in New Zealand, bringing together national and regional accreditation bodies and relevant stakeholders for the governance and development of a unified global accreditation system.

Additional information on the structure, operations, and activities of this international accreditation organization is available on the official website of Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated.