The decision to establish a new international organisation, Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated, was made after years of strategic planning and consultation between the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). It also is the natural progression with key joint activities already in place, such as the Joint General Assembly, Joint Executive Committee, Joint Management Committee for both the ILAC MRA and IAF MLA, Joint Working Group Communications, Joint A Series documents and joint meetings.  

In 2019, the 19th IAF-ILAC Joint General Assembly held in Frankfurt adopted two resolutions: 

• Resolution 1 endorsed the creation of a single international accreditation organisation based on the results of a global stakeholder survey; and 
• Resolution 2 established a Steering Committee, reporting to the Joint Executive Committee, to lead the development of the new organisation. 

In October 2024, at the 22nd Joint IAF and ILAC General Assembly held in Berlin, both memberships formally endorsed the establishment of the new body. 

The benefits of establishing a single international organisation include: 

• One Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MRA) covering all types of conformity assessment with global acceptance; 
• Streamlining of the organisation’s operations, less duplication of activities; 
• Improved capability to develop harmonised accreditation practices, requirements and procedures; 
• A strengthened dialogue with Stakeholders to improve the relevance and efficacy of accreditation; and 
• An enhanced global presence for promoting Accreditation and the Quality Infrastructure. 

Last Update: October 10, 2025.