ILAC – ISO Partnership

 

ILAC and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) have a long standing relationship.

ILAC has an ‘A’ liaison status within the ISO Committee on Conformity Assessment (CASCO) as well as a number of the ISO technical committees. ILAC is also involved in a number of the ISO working groups for developing standards. Further information on the ILAC and ISO liaison activity is available from the members area of the ILAC website.

Presentations on ISO-CASCO standards are available from the ISO website in the Resources for Conformity Assessment page.

 

Memorandum of Understanding

The IAF-ILAC-ISO Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was initially signed in 2004 and re-signed on 10 April 2014. The scope of the MOU covers the relationship between ILAC, IAF and ISO in matters of conformity assessment policy, standards development and practice as they relate to accreditation. The scope of the MoU is alongside the roles and responsibilities that the parties already have towards each other, that arise from IAF and ILAC being liaison members of ISO committees, and of ISO having special recognition status within IAF and being an observer member of ILAC.

IAF-ILAC-ISO Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) 2004 - Joint Communiqué

 

Joint Communiqués

ISO/IEC 17025 Communiqué

The Joint ISO-ILAC-IAF Communiqué issued in April 2017 on the Management Systems Requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 General Requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, confirms that laboratories accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 operate a recognised quality management system.

Joint IAF-ILAC-ISO Communiqué on ISO/IEC 17025

ISO 15189 Communiqué

The initial Joint IAF-ILAC-ISO Communiqué on ISO 15189 accreditation was originally issued in 2009 to reinforce the fact that medical laboratories accredited to ISO 15189:2007 Medical laboratories – Particular requirements for quality and competence, do operate a recognised management system.  The Communiqué was revised in January 2015 to refer to the 2012 edition of ISO 15189 and again in November 2021 to remove the dates of the standards therefore ensuring the current edition of the standards referenced are implied.

Joint IAF-ILAC-ISO Communiqué on ISO 15189

ISO/IEC 17020 Communiqué

The Joint IAF-ILAC-ISO Communiqué on ISO/IEC 17020 accreditation was issued in 2013 to reinforce the fact that inspection bodies accredited to ISO/IEC 17020:2012 Conformity Assessment – Requirements for the operation of bodies performing inspection, do operate a recognised management system.

Joint IAF-ILAC-ISO Communiqué on ISO/IEC 17020:2012

 

Joint Declarations

The Joint BIPM-OIML-ILAC-ISO Declaration on Metrological Traceability 2018 was updated and resigned on 13 November 2018.  

It reaffirms the Joint Declaration signed in 2011 that builds on the tripartite common statement and declaration issued by BIPM, OIML, and ILAC in 2006 on the relevance of various international agreements on metrology to trade, legislation and standardization.

 

CASCO Statement on COVID-19

This statement highlights how the CASCO Toolbox (ISO/IEC 17000 series of standards) enables the conformity assessment community to face the extraordinary period which the world is currently facing. The requirements for the competence, impartiality and consistent operations of bodies as well as the risk-based approach and the possibility to use remote techniques ensures that CASCO standards continue to support the reliability of the conformity assessment system.

 

Testimonial

“International Standards make things work. They provide world-class specifications for products, services and systems, to ensure quality, safety and efficiency. They are, together with accreditation instrumental in facilitating international trade.

For business, standards and accreditation are strategic tools that minimize waste and errors, increasing productivity and providing a framework for trust. They help companies to access new markets, level the playing field for developing countries and facilitate free and fair global trade.

With the globalization of trade as well as issues such as digitalization, climate change, environmental protection, security and health, trust must be achieved globally. The use of ISO International Standards for accreditation and the development of the ILAC MRA and IAF MLA are key to building trust across borders and promoting best practices in conformity assessment worldwide.

Being able to trust that a product or service is safe and will perform as expected, requires a credible accreditation scheme based on internationally recognised standards and subject to mutual recognition. Many government agencies rely on accredited conformity assessment to support their regulatory policies and without it, international trade as we know it today would be impossible. Accreditation based on ISO standards and ILAC MRA and IAF MLA provides the necessary confidence and assists in meeting the commitments taken in the context of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade.”

Sergio Mujica, ISO Secretary-General

ISO Contact Details
Tel: 41 22 749 0111
Fax: 41 22 733 3430
Email: central@iso.org