1. ARAC MLA Signatories

Following the latest ARAC MLA Group decisions ARAC has 5 MLA signatories as the following:

 

2. 5th Edition of the Arab Accreditation Week

Successful Conclusion of the 5th Edition of Arab Accreditation Week Showcases Regional Commitment to Excellence

The Arab Accreditation Week’s 5th edition, held from June 3rd to June 6th, 2024 under the theme “Together towards enhancing the role of accreditation in the Arab region in Empowering Tomorrow and Shaping the Future” marked a significant milestone in the region’s pursuit of excellence in accreditation and conformity assessment. The event successfully convened a series of technical sessions remotely, attracting over 1000 experts and participants from Accreditation Bodies personnel and conformity assessment bodies across the Arab region.

The virtual platform facilitated dynamic discussions and knowledge sharing among the different components of the accreditation infrastructure in the Arab region. The technical sessions covered a diverse range of topics, tailored to address the evolving needs and challenges faced by the Conformity Assessment Bodies and Accreditation Bodies at Arab level.

Highlights of the event included:

• A Regional Workshop on ISO/IEC 17043 and ISO/IEC 17034, providing insights into best practices and updates in proficiency testing and reference materials.
• A Regional Workshop on the Accreditation of Biobanking, exploring the latest advancements in establishing an accreditation program for biobanking.
• A Regional Workshop Reporting Statements of Conformity and Decision Rules, emphasizing the significance of clear and transparent reporting in conformity assessment.
• A Regional Workshop on the Accreditation of Laboratories according to ISO/IEC 17025:2017, delving into the requirements and challenges faced by laboratories in achieving accreditation.
• A Regional Workshop on External Quality Assessment Challenges in Medical Laboratories, addressing the critical role of external quality assessment in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of medical laboratory results.

The success of the 5th Arab Accreditation Week underscores the region’s commitment to fostering a culture of quality and continuous improvement. By harnessing the collective expertise and resources of stakeholders, the event has furthered the advancement of accreditation and conformity assessment practices, ultimately contributing to the enhancement of consumer protection and trade facilitation in the Arab region.

5th Edition of the Arab Accreditation Week

 

5th Edition of the Arab Accreditation Week Capacity Building Activities

 

3. New ARAC Stakeholder member: United Group of Conformity Assessment Bodies (UGCAB)

Significant growth in the Arab Accreditation Cooperation (ARAC) membership has been achieved with the acceptance of the United Group of Conformity Assessment Bodies (UGCAB), Iraq, as an ARAC Stakeholder Member in October 2024.

The inclusion of interested parties in ARAC serves two key purposes. First, it aims to build trust among all stakeholders involved in the accreditation process. By involving diverse parties ranging from industry representatives, regulatory bodies, conformity assessment bodies (CABs), to consumers, ARAC ensures that its accreditation framework is transparent, credible, and widely accepted. This collaboration fosters mutual recognition of ARAC’s accreditation systems, which is crucial for enhancing the quality infrastructure across the Arab region.

Secondly, involving stakeholders allows these interested parties to actively contribute their perspectives and feedback to ARAC. This engagement ensures that the needs and expectations of various sectors are reflected in ARAC’s policies, technical standards, and conformity assessment practices. By enabling a platform for stakeholders to express their views, ARAC remains responsive to the evolving demands of the market, regulatory frameworks, and technological advancements. This collaboration also promotes the harmonization of accreditation practices, reducing trade barriers and ensuring that accreditation systems across member states are aligned with international standards.

 

4. Next ARAC meetings:

18th – 19th December 2024, Makkah, KSA: ARAC Executive Committee & General Assembly Meetings.