Find out how the IAF’s ‘Multilateral Recognition Arrangement’ ensures your UKAS-accredited certificates will be accepted worldwide.
The IAF Is the World Association of Conformity Assessment Accreditation Bodies
IAF is an international association of organisations that work together to achieve common trade facilitation objectives. The primary function of the IAF is to develop a single worldwide program of conformity assessment which reduces risk for business and its customers by assuring them that accredited certificates may be relied upon.
IAF membership includes accreditation bodies from around the world, industry representatives and accredited certification bodies. British Assessment Bureau is accredited by United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) who are recognised by the IAF and have fulfilled the requirements of the IAF Multilateral Recognition arrangement (MLA).
The Value of Certification
Organisations that use standards and accredited conformity assessment have a higher level of satisfied customers, more efficient ways of working, better control of their costs and greater control over the internal processes. Therefore, certification from an accredited organisation can help to improve the quality of products and services, strengthen the resilience of IT systems and resources. Enabling organisations to manage assets and improve the attractiveness of their business in the market.
One of the main benefits of using an accreditation body that has signed up to the agreement is that it can help break down trade and technical barriers. Certification from a recognised accredited body can add value to an organisation enabling them to leverage a recognised certification reducing customer uncertainty.
- deliver cost savings
- expand market opportunities
- gain quality improvement
- improve company performance
- lower insurance premiums
The IAF MLA provides businesses that are procuring products and services with greater confidence in their consistency of quality. Businesses can therefore select suppliers from further afield in the knowledge that they will receive products and services that conform to a recognised standard.
As a UKAS-accredited certification body, British Assessment Bureau provides certification services to the approved management system standards and can promote the fact that our service is covered by the IAF MLA by using the IAF MLA Mark.
UKAS will ensure that the certification body is applying the rules in line with IAF MLA requirements and the international standards themselves. As the certification body, we will ensure clients are applying the rules of the relevant international standards.
So How Do I Know if an Accreditation Body Is a Member of the IAF?
If you visit the IAF website you will see the list of signatories on the website, you will find UKAS under the United Kingdom.
