On 06 December 2024, the Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated was officially registered as a legal entity and is now an incorporated society in New Zealand. This milestone marks a pivotal step in the journey toward a single international organisation for accreditation, one that will unify the work of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC).

‘This is a historic moment for the global accreditation community,’ said Emanuele Riva, IAF Chair. ‘The establishment of the Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated marks the culmination of years of collaboration and shared vision. By bringing together IAF and ILAC, we are laying the foundation for a more streamlined global accreditation framework, one that will foster greater international cooperation and ensure that accreditation continues to play a vital role in supporting trade, quality and sustainability. It will change the way we do things, and how we do them. This turning point will bring visibility to accreditation, but will also help the technical convergence between the different organisations and cultures present today in our community.’

This achievement would not have been possible without the dedication and work of countless individuals across the accreditation community. The collective efforts of the IAF and ILAC Chairs, Executive Committee members, all IAF and ILAC members, Secretariats and the other individuals who have contributed their time and expertise to the project have been instrumental in transforming this vision into reality.

‘The Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated represents the evolution of our work,’ said Etty Feller, ILAC Chair. ‘As we move into the next stages of this project, our primary focus will be ensuring a seamless transition from ILAC and IAF to the new organisation. We are deeply committed to working closely with our members, regulatory bodies and stakeholders to make the transition as smooth as possible.’

Ms Feller emphasized that ‘the creation of the Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated will position the accreditation community to better address global challenges and support the evolving needs of industry, regulators and consumers worldwide. My personal mission is to promote accreditation by qualified and competent organisations in a harmonized way for the benefit of the world.’

IAF and ILAC look forward to the next steps in this transformative journey and are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for the global accreditation community and all who benefit from it. The effort to unify the accreditation landscape is a collective one, and the global accreditation community is now on the threshold of an exciting new chapter.