ANAB Expands IAF MLA Status

ANAB is now a signatory of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) multilateral recognition arrangement (MLA) for level 5 sub-scopes of ISO 22000, ISO/IEC 27001, and ISO 13485.

These programs are in addition to the previous recognition for ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, and this represents a significant expansion of ANAB’s IAF MLA status.

IAF is the global association of conformity assessment accreditation bodies for management systems, products, services, personnel, and other programs of conformity assessment. Its primary function is to develop a single worldwide program of conformity assessment that reduces risk for business and its customers by assuring them that accredited certificates can be relied on. Accreditation assures users of the competence and impartiality of the accredited body.

Accreditation body members of IAF are admitted to the IAF MLA only after a stringent evaluation of their operations by a peer evaluation team charged with ensuring that the applicant member complies fully with international standards and IAF requirements. Signatories of the IAF MLA are required to recognize the certificates issued by conformity assessment bodies accredited by all other signatories.

By reducing the need for multiple assessments, the IAF MLA facilitates international trade by encouraging regional and worldwide acceptance of valid certificates, registrations, and results issued by signatory accreditation bodies. 

ANAB previously attained similar recognition for ISO 22000 food safety management systems, ISO/IEC 27001 information security management systems, and ISO 13485 medical device management systems through the InterAmerican Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC), a regional association of accreditation bodies whose mission is to promote cooperation among accreditation bodies and interested parties of the Americas, aiming at the development of conformity assessment structures to achieve the improvement of products, processes, and services.

IAF relies heavily on the MLAs of recognized regional accreditation groups, such as IAAC, to perform the majority of the peer evaluation activity necessary to support the IAF MLA. 

ANAB underwent an on-site evaluation by IAF as a precursor to attaining this latest recognition.