From Elsmar Cove Quality Assurance and Business Standards Wiki
ILAC - the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation - is an international cooperation of laboratory and inspection accreditation bodies formed more than 30 years ago to help remove technical barriers to trade.
Accreditation allows people to make an informed decision when selecting a laboratory, as it demonstrates competence, impartiality and capability. It helps to underpin the credibility and performance of goods and services.
Accreditation bodies around the world, which have been evaluated by peers as competent, have signed an arrangement that enhances the acceptance of products and services across national borders. The purpose of this arrangement, the ILAC Arrangement, is to create an international framework to support international trade through the removal of technical barriers.
ILAC counts as its members laboratory and inspection accreditation bodies representing more than 70 economies and regional organisations.
The ultimate aim of the ILAC Arrangement is the increased use and acceptance by industry as well as regulators of the results from accredited laboratories and inspection bodies, including results from laboratories in other countries. In this way, the free-trade goal of 'product tested once and accepted everywhere' can be realised.
ILAC provides a focus for:
Developing and harmonising laboratory and inspection accreditation practices.
Promoting laboratory and inspection accreditation to industry, governments, regulators and consumers.
Assisting and supporting developing accreditation systems.
Global recognition of laboratories and inspection facilities via the ILAC Arrangement, thus facilitating acceptance of test, inspection and calibration data accompanying goods across national borders.
International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation web site
