The International Accreditation Forum (IAF), International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML) renewed their tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in a signing ceremony held on 10 October 2018 in Hamburg, Germany. The MoU was first signed on 28 October 2007.

The MoU solidifies the three organizations’ intent for cooperation in areas of common interest through the sharing of information, joint projects and listing of Legal Metrology Experts (LMEs) and Management System Experts (team leaders) trained by OIML, IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) signatories and ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) signatories. IAF and ILAC will request IAF MLA and ILAC MRA signatories to use the specified LMEs in situations when legal metrology activities are included in the scope of accreditation, with OIML recognizing these accreditations as valid, and IAF will request IAF Members to encourage the use of OIML-validated LMEs by certification bodies when legal metrology enters into the scope of certification. OIML is requested to use specified team leaders for OIML peer assessments.

Xiao Jianhua, IAF Chair, stated: “Accreditation and metrology serve a vital and complimentary role within the global quality infrastructure. I look forward to IAF’s continued cooperation with OIML and ILAC as underpinned by our Memorandum of Understanding”.

About the International Accreditation Forum

The IAF is the world association of Conformity Assessment Accreditation Bodies and other bodies interested in conformity assessment in the fields of management systems, products, services, personnel and other similar programmes of conformity assessment. Its primary function is to develop a single worldwide program of conformity assessment which reduces risk for business and its customers by assuring them that accredited certificates may be relied upon. Accreditation assures users of the competence and impartiality of the body accredited.

About the 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) and inspection bodies (using ISO/IEC 17020). Through the application of national and international standards, government, procurers and consumers can have confidence in the calibration and test results, and inspection reports provided.

About the International Organization of Legal Metrology

The OIML is an intergovernmental treaty organization which promotes global harmonization of legal metrology procedures. Its mission is to enable economies to put in place effective legal metrology infrastructures that are mutually compatible and internationally recognized, for all areas for which governments take responsibility, such as those which facilitate trade, establish mutual confidence and harmonize the level of consumer protection worldwide. The OIML develops model regulations, standards and related documents for use by legal metrology authorities and industry, and has developed the OIML Certification System (OIML-CS) in order to increase mutual confidence and to reduce trade barriers and costs in a global market.