The accreditation bodies that are signatories to the ILAC MRA have been peer evaluated in accordance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17011 to assess and accredit conformity assessment bodies according to the relevant international standards, including calibration laboratories using ISO/IEC 17025, testing laboratories using ISO/IEC 17025, medical testing laboratories using ISO 15189, inspection bodies using ISO/IEC 17020, proficiency testing providers (PTP) using ISO/IEC 17043 and reference material producers (RMP) using ISO 17034.
The accreditation bodies that are signatories to the ILAC MRA for the relevant accreditation activities will accept the results of each other’s accredited laboratories and inspection bodies, programs provided by PTPs and reference materials produced by RMPs. Therefore, the results from the laboratories and inspection bodies, programs provided by PTPs and reference materials produced by RMPs accredited by the ILAC MRA signatories are able to be recognised internationally under the ILAC MRA.
The accreditation bodies are responsible for maintaining a list of laboratories, inspection bodies, proficiency testing providers and reference material producers that they have accredited. The ILAC MRA Signatory Search provides the contact details for all the accreditation bodies that are signatories to the ILAC MRA and this list is searchable by organisation name, economy and accreditation scope. In many cases, a link to the accreditation body’s online directory of accredited laboratories, inspection bodies, proficiency testing providers and reference material producers is also provided with the accreditation body’s contact details in the ILAC MRA Signatory Search.
Accreditation bodies issue accreditation certificates that include the accredited laboratory, inspection body, proficiency testing providers or reference material producers’ scope of accreditation. Accreditation bodies that are signatories to the ILAC MRA are able to use the ILAC MRA Mark in combination with the ILAC MRA signatory logo, i.e. the “Combined ILAC MRA Mark”, for accreditation activities covered by the scope of their ILAC MRA signatory status.
Accredited laboratories, inspection bodies, proficiency testing providers and reference material producers issue calibration, test, inspection, proficiency testing program or reference material certifictes/reports that include the results as well as information on the standards and methods used. The accredited laboratories, inspection bodies, proficiency testing providers and reference material producers of the ILAC MRA signatories are able to use the ILAC MRA Mark in combination with the ILAC MRA signatory’s accreditation symbol that the accredited conformity assessment body (CAB) is entitled to use, i.e. the “Accredited CAB Combined ILAC MRA Mark”.
The ILAC MRA Mark is shown below:
ILAC R7 Rules for the Use of the ILAC MRA Mark is available from the Publications and Resources section.
In order to check the validity of a certificate or report, it is best to directly contact the accreditation body that is a signatory to the ILAC MRA for the relevant accreditation activities in the economy where the laboratory, inspection body, proficiency testing provider or reference material producer is based. The accreditation body will be able to confirm the laboratory, inspection body, proficiency testing provider or reference material producers’ accreditation status and their scope of accreditation.
If you have received a counterfeit certificate or fraudulent report, then please contact the accreditation body that is a signatory to the ILAC MRA in the economy where the certificate or report was issued.
Further information:
The ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement | Why use an Accredited Laboratory? | Why use an Accredited Inspection Body? |