WHY ACCREDITATION MATTERS
Accreditation is the independent evaluation of conformity assessment bodies (also known as Certification Bodies – or CBs) against recognized standards to ensure their impartiality and competence.
Accreditation bodies are established in many countries with the primary purpose of ensuring that conformity assessment bodies are subject to oversight by an authoritative body. Through the application of national and international standards, government, consumers and stakeholders can have confidence in certifications provided. Accreditation bodies, which have been evaluated by peers sign arrangements that enhance the acceptance of products and services across national borders, thereby creating a framework to support international trade through the removal of technical barriers to trade.
Certificates in the fields of management systems, products, services, personnel and other similar programs of conformity assessment issued by bodies accredited by IAF MLA members are therefore relied upon in international trade. Without international standards, technical barriers to trade would result in increased costs for importers and consumers, reduced competition and different standards of a product or service.
ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
is an independent, non-governmental international organization with a membership of 165 national standards bodies. Through its members, it brings together experts to share knowledge and develop voluntary, consensus-based, standards. ISO is represented in this pyramid separated from the structure – as they are NOT part of the governance process, as they only write the standards, but won’t govern how they are utilized in the conformity assessment process.
ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
is an independent, non-governmental international organization with a membership of 165 national standards bodies. Through its members, it brings together experts to share knowledge and develop voluntary, consensus-based, Standards. ISO is represented in this pyramid separated from the structure – as they are NOT part of the governance process, as they only write the standards, but won’t govern how they are utilized in the conformity assessment process.
IAF (International Accreditation Forum)
is the world association of conformity assessment accreditation bodies and other bodies interested in conformity assessment. IAF ensures that its accreditation body members only accredit bodies that are competent to do the work they undertake and are not subject to conflicts of interest. IAF is also responsible for developing mutual recognition arrangements, which provides benefits for companies all over the world who are certified.
ABs (Accreditation Bodies)
independently evaluate conformity assessment bodies (also known as certification bodies – CBs) against recognized standards to ensure their impartiality and competence. A certification body successfully assessed by an AB is called an “accredited certification body”.
CBs (Certification Bodies)
CBs (Certification Bodies), also known as conformity assessment bodies, are organizations which provide independent verification of conformance to ISO standards in various areas such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and many more.
CERTIFIED ORGANIZATIONS
Certified clients are the final recipients of an accredited certificate, upon successful completion of an audit processed carried out by a certification body (CB), indicating conformity to a ISO or industry specific standard.