World Accreditation Day, a yearly initiative established by ILAC and IAF to highlight the value and importance of accreditation, will be held on 09 June 2025.

SMEs are essential to the global economy, driving innovation, creating jobs and supporting local communities. However, these businesses often face challenges such as limited resources, competition and difficulty accessing markets. One tool that SMEs can use to address these challenges is conformity assessment, which can provide assurance that their products, services, processes or procedures meet specified requirements. Accreditation of a conformity assessment body confirms that the body is competent and reliable, providing confidence in its results.

Through accredited conformity assessment, SMEs can demonstrate their commitment to quality, safety, sustainability and compliance with recognised best practices. This can strengthen their reputation and consumer confidence, helping SMEs to attract and retain customers. Additionally, SMEs can increase their business opportunities and market access by proving their compliance with standards and regulations.

Accredited conformity assessment can aid SMEs in identifying areas for improvement in their operations, such as enhancing product quality and streamlining processes. For SMEs seeking funding, accredited conformity assessment can improve access to financial support, by signalling lower risk to lenders and investors. It can also enable the SME to meet requirements for government grants or incentives.

The IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) and ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) provide an infrastructure that allows accredited conformity assessment results to be recognised around the world. They enable the acceptance of products and services across borders, by removing the need for them to undergo additional tests, inspections or certification in each economy where they are sold.

As in previous years, IAF and ILAC held a contest to develop the official poster.  The winning poster was designed by Joshua Egahi-Ojo Alhassan.

You can download the poster, Joint Statement from the IAF and ILAC Chairs, and the WAD Brochure here.

ILAC and IAF will also be holding a virtual event on 09 June, with more information to be released via social media @ILAC_Official on “X” or ILAC on LinkedIn , closer to the date.

The signatory status of Quality and Accreditation Institute, Centre for International Accreditation (QAI CIA) India, to the ILAC MRA has been extended to include the accreditation of Calibration (ISO/IEC 17025).

The full list of signatories to the ILAC MRA is available from https://ilac.org/signatory-search/ .

IAF and ILAC are pleased to announce the publication of our 2025 World Accreditation Day (WAD) resources. This year’s theme, Accreditation: Empowering Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), highlights how accreditation helps SMEs grow, access global markets and improve quality and sustainability. The resources, including a joint statement from the IAF and ILAC Chairs, a brochure and a video, are now available here for the use of members and stakeholders in celebrating WAD 2025 on 09 June.

Additionally, a variety of case studies related to our theme are available on the Business Benefits and Public Sector Assurance websites. These case studies illustrate how SMEs from different sectors have successfully leveraged accreditation to access new markets and achieve long-term growth.

IAF and ILAC encourage all members and stakeholders to participate in the global celebration. We invite organisations and individuals to:

• Distribute the WAD materials: Share the brochure, video, joint statement and case studies to raise awareness about the role of accreditation in empowering SMEs.
• Host events or webinars: Engage your economy by hosting events that discuss the importance of accreditation. Notify IAF and ILAC about your event here by 23 April to have your event publicized on the IAF and ILAC websites.
• Join the conversation on social media: Use the hashtag #WAD2025 to highlight events, articles and case studies about how accreditation is supporting SMEs across various industries.

IAF and ILAC will also be holding a virtual event on 09 June, with more information to be released closer to the date. Follow IAF (International Accreditation Forum Inc) and ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Co-operation (ILAC)) on LinkedIn, or IAF (@IAF_Global) and ILAC (@ILAC_Official) on X for the latest WAD updates.

By helping SMEs succeed in competitive markets, accreditation not only helps individual businesses thrive but also contributes to a more sustainable, resilient and equitable global economy. IAF and ILAC are excited to celebrate the significant role that accreditation plays in supporting SMEs, and look forward to engaging with our members and stakeholders throughout the global WAD 2025 celebration.

We welcome Consejo Nacional de Acreditación (CNA), Panama, as a Full Member of ILAC.

As CNA is a signatory to the IAAC MLA for the accreditation of testing laboratories using ISO/IEC 17025, calibration laboratories using ISO/IEC 17025 and inspection bodies using ISO/IEC 17020, CNA has been granted signatory status to the ILAC MRA and therefore, Full membership of ILAC. 

We welcome CNA and look forward to working with our CNA colleagues.

The full list of signatories to the ILAC MRA is available here.

The Japan Accreditation Service for agriculture, forestry and fisheries, Japan, is welcomed as an Associate member of ILAC.

We welcome JASaff and look forward to working with our JASaff colleagues.

We welcome International Quality and Accreditation Services Pvt. Ltd., India, as a Full Member of ILAC.

As IQAS is a signatory to the APAC MRA for the accreditation of testing laboratories using ISO/IEC 17025, medical testing using ISO 15189 and calibration laboratories using ISO/IEC 17025, IQAS has been granted signatory status to the ILAC MRA and therefore, Full membership of ILAC. 

We welcome IQAS and look forward to working with our IQAS colleagues.

The full list of signatories to the ILAC MRA is available here.

ILAC and IAF are pleased to announce the three winning designs in the 2025 World Accreditation Day poster contest, which received a total of 64 entries. This year’s contest invited contestants to explore the theme of Accreditation: Empowering Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

Congratulations to Joshua Egahi-Ojo Alhassan, who won the first-place prize of USD 1500. His design, inspired by nature, symbolizes the growth of SMEs through accreditation. In his poster, an accreditation symbol supports a microcosm of SMEs, which are overlooked by a tree bearing fruits in the form of industry icons. This powerful visual represents how accreditation fosters growth, leading to positive outcomes that benefit society. Learn more about the designer and his inspiration here.

The winning poster is available for download here.

We would also like to congratulate our second-place winner, Wardina Afiqah Mohd Hasrin, and our third-place winners, the team of Laura Uraine and Tania Blancas. Each runner-up entry earned a prize of USD 500. Learn more about these designers and their posters here.

Thank you to all participants!

On 06 December 2024, the Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated was officially registered as a legal entity and is now an incorporated society in New Zealand. This milestone marks a pivotal step in the journey toward a single international organisation for accreditation, one that will unify the work of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC).

‘This is a historic moment for the global accreditation community,’ said Emanuele Riva, IAF Chair. ‘The establishment of the Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated marks the culmination of years of collaboration and shared vision. By bringing together IAF and ILAC, we are laying the foundation for a more streamlined global accreditation framework, one that will foster greater international cooperation and ensure that accreditation continues to play a vital role in supporting trade, quality and sustainability.  It will change the way we do things, and how we do them. This turning point will bring visibility to accreditation, but will also help the technical convergence between the different organisations and cultures present today in our community.’

This achievement would not have been possible without the dedication and work of countless individuals across the accreditation community. The collective efforts of the IAF and ILAC Chairs, Executive Committee members, all IAF and ILAC members, Secretariats and the other individuals who have contributed their time and expertise to the project have been instrumental in transforming this vision into reality.

‘The Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated represents the evolution of our work,’ said Etty Feller, ILAC Chair. ‘As we move into the next stages of this project, our primary focus will be ensuring a seamless transition from ILAC and IAF to the new organisation. We are deeply committed to working closely with our members, regulatory bodies and stakeholders to make the transition as smooth as possible.’

Ms Feller emphasized that ‘the creation of the Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated will position the accreditation community to better address global challenges and support the evolving needs of industry, regulators and consumers worldwide. My personal mission is to promote accreditation by qualified and competent organisations in a harmonized way for the benefit of the world.’

IAF and ILAC look forward to the next steps in this transformative journey and are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for the global accreditation community and all who benefit from it. The effort to unify the accreditation landscape is a collective one, and the global accreditation community is now on the threshold of an exciting new chapter.

Accredia, the Italian Accreditation Body, gets a makeover: new brand identity, same commitment on the market

Modernity, flexibility, accessibility and navigability were the keywords of the rebranding of Accredia, the Italian Accreditation Body, which presents itself on the market with a new graphic design and digital look consistent with its mission and commitment.

On the 3^rd of December, Accredia unveiled its new institutional logo and accreditation marks’ system, the result of a rebranding that represents an important step in Accredia’s growth process, with a distinctive sign that is consistent with its mission.

Accompanying the change of the logo, the new website reflects the development of accreditation in Italy, which for fifteen years has been contributing to the competitiveness of companies on the national and international market, thanks to the competence and impartiality of accredited bodies and laboratories.

The institutional website

The new web project offers an integrated form to Accredia’s digital identity, strengthened by the rationalisation of information and the restyling of the information architecture, which gives greater accessibility to content and documents and makes it easier to all users, particularly the professionals.

Bodies and laboratories wishing to apply for accreditation or download documents of interest now have a new path, where different sections aim to provide precise answers or useful content, depending on the type of accreditation and specific requirements.

The synergetic work between web design and technological development, realised by the Cultur-e agency on a WordPress platform, has made the user experience ‘simple but not simplifying’, to improve navigation of the site by all users.

The institutional logo

 The change of logo represents a transformation and alignment to a more contemporary visual identity, designed by Melazero agency, combining three powerful symbols: the letter ‘A’ to indicate excellent quality, the triangle representing authority and stability, and the circle, symbolising inclusiveness, eternity and perfection.

Two main colours distinguish Accredia’s logo: graphite and ochre. Graphite, elegant and sophisticated, represents balance and stability. Ochre recalls positivity and the energy of the Sun, symbolising an openness towards the future and a commitment to change.

The choice of the font, Roboto, is also aimed at modernity: with simple and decisive lines, this font reflects Accredia’s contemporary spirit, adapting to every medium and format, always maintaining a fluid and natural reading.

The payoff is also new, becoming ‘Competing for growing’, signifying both Accredia’s commitment to guaranteeing the competence of bodies and laboratories, as well as the possibility for companies and professionals to better compete on the market, thanks to accredited certifications.

The accreditation mark

The mark that identifies the accreditation certificates, issued to accredited bodies and laboratories, synthesises the shape of the circle and, like the institutional logo, is characterised by two ochre-coloured parallel lines.

The stylisation of the central pole of the ‘A’ evokes the tick of a double check, symbolising Accredia’s role as ‘controller of controllers’.

The mark gives Accredia’s certificates the utmost reliability and facilitates the free movement of products and services on the global market, based on the competence and impartiality of the bodies and laboratories that have certified, verified, inspected or tested them.

The accreditation marks

Consistent with the institutional logo, accreditation marks dedicated to accredited bodies and laboratories have been designed to make conformity and calibration certificates, verification statements and test and inspection reports recognisable on the market.

Among the new features of the system, each accreditation mark is associated with a single conformity assessment scheme, so as to identify the specific activity in which the body or laboratory has obtained accreditation.

Public and private organisations and professionals who use conformity assessment services performed by accredited bodies, may also display the accreditation mark dedicated to them.

Bangladesh Accreditation Board (BAB) is a statutory body established by “The Bangladesh Accreditation Act, 2006” under the Ministry of Industries, the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. The board is mandated by the act to make provisions for the issuance of accreditation certificates to different laboratories, certification bodies, inspection bodies, training institutions, or persons, in line with the relevant International and national standards and guidelines.

BAB started testing the laboratory accreditation scheme in 2011 and issued its first-ever accreditation certificate in 2012. Since this time, activities of BAB have been expanded in response to valued stakeholders, at home and abroad. BAB is currently operating 4 accreditation schemes for testing, calibration, and medical laboratories, inspection bodies, and certification bodies. As of October 2024, BAB has accredited 144 Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) operating in both private and public domains.

In 2015 BAB signed a Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) with the Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (now APAC) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). Membership for Halal Accreditation with other similar international and regional organizations including the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC) is in process.

The government of Bangladesh declared “The World Accreditation Day” 9 June as a National Day (Category C) in 2013. Every year this day is celebrated nationwide with great enthusiasm, to promote mass awareness about accreditation and dissemination of accreditation information. On the eve of the World Accreditation Day 2024, BAB published souvenirs highlighting the theme of the day and the importance of accreditation, and organized different seminars, symposium stakeholder meetings, and so on. A special supplement was published in the widely circulated daily newspapers and a television talk show was also aired on this occasion.

Zakia Sultana, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Industries and Md. Anwarul Alam, Director General, BAB is seen in the World Accreditation Day 2024 rally

Like previous years, a colorful rally led by Zakia Sultana, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Industries and Md. Anwarul Alam, Director General, BAB was held on the occasion of ‘World Accreditation Day 2024’. The experts, regulators, well-wishers, and beneficiaries from different stakeholders including senior officials of the Ministry of Industry, representatives of different accredited CABs, the business community, academia, quality and accreditation persons, and journalists from electronic and print media participated in the rally. Different electronic media aired and print media published the news with great emphasis.

To improve national accreditation infrastructure in the country BAB organizes need-based training on different international standards and technical topics. This also helps in the facilitation of accreditation activities and making a competent assessor/expert pool.

Mr. Md. Anwarul Alam, Director General, BAB and Mr Hohammad Shhohaieb, Initiative Director, UK Bangladesh Standards partnership initiative, BSI along with the participants.

As part of the ministry-led innovation program for service simplification, BAB has a program to provide accreditation services appropriately by establishing a modern technology-based, efficient, accountable, corruption-free administrative and accreditation system. In this regard, BAB showcased “Pre-qualification Self-Assessment of Testing and Calibration Service Providers Interested in Accreditation through Online” on its website for feasibility and client’s opinion.

Mr. Md. Anwarul Alam, Director General, BAB describing the service simplification of BAB to Zakia Sultana, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Industries.

BAB is committed to maintaining APAC/ILAC MRA status in compliance with international norms, and assists in the overall development of Bangladesh by trade facilitation; delivering confidence and protection of public interest through quality accreditation services without discrimination, and ensuring maintaining independence, impartiality, transparency and objectivity in the decision-making process. To this end, BAB regularly organizes meetings with significant stakeholders for feedback, opinions, and suggestions.

Mr. Md. Anwarul Alam, Director General, BAB and senior BAB officials along with the participants of the stakeholder workshop.

BAB always strives to establish itself as a reliable accreditation organization in regional and the international arena. Over time, the spectrum of BAB activities has been expanding. The Bangladesh government has taken different initiatives and approved new projects in the annual development program for modernization of accreditation infrastructure and capacity building. In the future, through increasing the work portfolios and activities, BAB will continue its significant role in the socio-economic development of the country.