1 January 2026: A new, single international accreditation organisation, Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated, has been established to bring together the work of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF).

Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated has commenced full operations as of 1 January 2026, including the launch of its own Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MRA).

Why this matters

For governments, regulators, industry and consumers, accredited conformity assessment results and certificates must be trusted and accepted across borders, “bringing global trust for a better world”.

By replacing ILAC and IAF with a single organisation, the global accreditation system that underpins trade, safety and consumer confidence will become simpler, more efficient and easier to trust. The formation of Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated will reduce duplication of efforts, harmonise accreditation policies and procedures and enable more consistent application of standards across sectors and borders.

What is changing

One organisation, one governance framework. While the governance and organisational structure of IAF and ILAC are evolving through the formation of the Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated, continuity is being maintained in scopes of accreditation and membership. The new organisation will bring a more unified framework without changing the trusted relationships or recognitions that regulators, industry, consumers and the conformity assessment community rely on.

One global Cooperation, one MRA. The Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated’s MRA will cover the scopes previously recognised under the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement and the IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement, providing a single, clearer pathway for mutual recognition of accredited conformity assessment results.

What isn’t changing

Continuity of recognition. Existing accreditations issued under the ILAC MRA and/or IAF MLA will continue to be recognised as arrangements transition to the Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated MRA.

No service interruptions. Accreditation bodies (ABs), conformity assessment bodies (CABs), scheme owners and regional groups will continue operating as normal through the transition.

Existing marks remain valid during transition. The IAF MLA and ILAC MRA marks will remain valid for as long as required until full adoption of the Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated new mark.

How the global system continues to work

Proven regional machinery remains in place. Regional Cooperation Bodies (AFRAC, APAC, ARAC, EA, IAAC, SADCA) will continue to support peer evaluations and regional coordination that feed the global MRA.

Confidence through peer evaluation. As with ILAC and IAF, confidence is built via rigorous, standards-based peer evaluation (ISO/IEC 17011) of ABs and regions, ensuring that accreditation remains a strong enabler of mutual recognition.

What stakeholders should do now

Regulators and policymakers: Prepare to reference the Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated MRA in laws, regulations, specifications and schemes (with transitional recognition of ILAC/IAF marks).

CABs and scheme owners: Continue normal operations; maintain use of current ILAC/IAF marks during the transition period, then phase to the Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated mark once available per guidance.

International partners: Expect a single point of liaison for accreditation policy and technical input; existing MoUs will be renegotiated or transitioned to the Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated.

About Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated

The Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated is a not-for-profit Incorporated Society registered in New Zealand (6 December 2024). It brings together accreditation bodies, stakeholders and regional cooperation bodies to operate a single global Multilateral Recognition Arrangement supporting international acceptance of accredited conformity assessment results.

Official name: Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated

Website: http://www.globalaccreditationcooperationincorporated.org

Contact: secretariat@global-accreditation.nz