Initialisms and Acronyms

Following is a list of initialisms and acronyms commonly used by ANAB and the conformity assessment community.

Initialism/AcronymDefinition
AAQGAmericas Aerospace Quality Group
ABAccreditation body
ACAccreditation Council
ACCAmerican Chemistry Council
ACLASSFormer ANAB brand for accreditation of calibration and test laboratories, inspection bodies, RMPs, and PT providers
ANABANSI National Accreditation Board
ANSIAmerican National Standards Institute, owner of ANAB
APACAsia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (joined APLAC and PAC 2019/01/01)
APLACFormer Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation, now APAC
ASQAmerican Society for Quality
ATFSAmerican Tree Farm System, program for forestry management systems
CABConformity assessment body
CASCOISO’s Committee on Conformity Assessment
CBCertification body, also known as a registrar
CDCommittee draft, a stage in the development of a standard
CEPDCounterfeit Electronics Prevention for Distributors
DISDraft International Standard, a stage in the development of a standard
DoDU.S. Department of Defense
DoEU.S. Department of Energy
EAEuropean Cooperation for Accreditation, association of European accreditation bodies
ELAPEnvironmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (of DoD)
EMSEnvironmental management systems
EnMSEnergy management systems
EPAU.S. Environmental Protection Agency
e-Stewards®Recycling standard
EUEuropean Union
FAAU.S. Federal Aviation Administration
FBI QASU.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation Quality Assurance Standards
FCCU.S. Federal Communications Commission
FDAU.S. Food and Drug Administration
FDISFinal Draft International Standard, a stage in the development of a standard
FOEField of experience
FQAU.S. Fastener Quality Act
FQSFormer ANAB brand for accreditation of forensic testing labs and forensic inspection agencies
FSMOField sampling and measurement organization
FSMSFood safety management systems
GFSIGlobal Food Safety Initiative
GHGGreenhouse gas
GSAGaming Standards Association; U.S. General Services Administration
HACCPHazard Analysis Critical Control Point (for food safety)
IAACInterAmerican Accreditation Cooperation
IAARIndependent Association of Accredited Registrars
IAFInternational Accreditation Forum
IAQGInternational Aerospace Quality Group
ICOPIndustry controlled other party (aerospace program)
IECInternational Electrotechnical Commission, with ISO and ITU constitutes major international standards developing organizations
IIOCIndependent International Organization for Certification, an association of CBs
ILACInternational Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation
ILCInter-laboratory comparisons
IQNETInternational Quality Network, association of CBs
ISMSInformation security management systems
ISOInternational Organization for Standardization, with IEC and ITU constitutes major international standards developing organizations
ISRIInstitute of Scrap Recycling Industries (responsible for RIOS)
MLAMultilateral recognition agreement or arrangement
MOUMemorandum of understanding
MRAMutual recognition agreement or arrangement, multilateral recognition arrangement
NACENomenclature des activités économiques (common statistical classification of economic activities)
NACLAU.S. National Cooperation for Laboratory Accreditation
NADCAPU.S. National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program
NAICSNorth American Industry Classification System (replaced SIC system)
NEFAPNational Environmental Field Activities Program
NGONon-governmental organization
NISTU.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology
NLLAPEPA’s National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program
NRCNuclear Regulatory Commission
NRTLU.S. Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory
NVLAPU.S. National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program of NIST
NWIPNew work item proposal (at ISO)
OHSMSOccupational health and safety management systems
OSHAU.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration
PACFormer Pacific Accreditation Cooperation, now APAC
PEFCProgramme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes
PTProficiency testing
QMSQuality management systems
QuEST ForumQuality Excellence for Suppliers of Telecommunications Leadership Forum
RCResponsible Care® program of ACC
RCMSResponsible Care® management systems
RIOSRecycling Industry Operating Standard
RMCRegistrar Management Committee of AAQG
RMPReference material producer
R2Responsible Recycling standard
SCSMSSupply chain security management systems
SDOStandards developing organization
SICStandard Industrial Classification system (replaced in 1997 by NAICS)
SFISustainable Forestry Initiative
SMESmall and medium-sized enterprises
SMSService management systems
TBTTechnical barriers to trade (see also WTO)
TCTechnical committee
TFTask force
TGTask group
TNIThe NELAC Institute
UNCTADUnited Nations Conference on Trade and Development
UNIDOUnited Nations Industrial Development Organization
WDWorking draft
WGWorking group
WTOWorld Trade Organization