sec_6_7_1__para__2

At international level, cooperation between accreditation bodies takes place within two organisations: namely within the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) between accreditation bodies accrediting certification (products and management systems) bodies and within the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) between accreditation bodies accrediting laboratories and inspection bodies. Both organisations provide for multilateral mutual recognition arrangements between its accreditation body members. IAF manages a Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA), while ILAC operates a Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA). These multilateral mutual recognition arrangements/agreements of competence at technical level between accreditation bodies have the ultimate aim to allow products and services accompanied by accredited conformity attestations to enter foreign markets without the need for re-testing or re-certification in the import country. The objective of such recognition arrangement/ agreements between accreditation bodies is therefore to contribute to reinforce the acceptance of conformity assessment results.

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-09-25 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.