09 June 2024 marks World Accreditation Day (WAD), a global initiative established by IAF and ILAC to highlight the value of accreditation. This year’s theme, Accreditation: Empowering Tomorrow and Shaping the Future, examines the impact of accreditation as digitalization, new technologies and sustainability concerns continue to change our world.

Accreditation has been a key pillar of societal assurance for decades, and now underpins trust in almost every aspect of everyday life. Accredited conformity assessment can enable the development and adoption of new technologies, particularly in industries and supply chains where precision, safety and quality are critical. It can support cybersecurity and privacy in an increasingly connected world. As sustainability remains a major concern, accreditation can help consumers and businesses make informed decisions.

In each of these areas, mutual recognition arrangements such as the IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) and the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) play a vital role in helping businesses to transcend geographical borders and industry boundaries.

IAF and ILAC have published a set of materials to celebrate WAD 2024, including a joint statement from the IAF and ILAC Chairs, a poster, a brochure and a video. Download the materials here, or view the video on the IAF/ILAC YouTube channel.

The Public Sector Assurance and Business Benefits websites, which contain case studies, research and supporting materials demonstrating the benefits of accreditation, can provide more information on how accreditation can support our 2024 theme.

IAF and ILAC will also be holding a virtual event on 10 June, with more information to be released closer to the date. We encourage everyone to attend the virtual event, celebrate with us online using the hashtag #WAD2024, and contact your local accreditation body for details on local media and online seminars and programs they may be organising. A list of IAF Members is available here, and a list of ILAC Members is available here.

Follow IAF (@IAF_Global) and ILAC (@ILAC_Official) on Twitter, and IAF on LinkedIn (International Accreditation Forum Inc) for the latest updates.