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ASIA PACIFIC ACCREDITATION COOPERATION (APAC)
The Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC) was established on 1 January 2019 by the amalgamation of two former regional accreditation Cooperations – the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC) and the Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC).
SLAB is a Full Member of APAC and is a signatory to the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) of APAC. The scope of APAC MRA covers ISO 15189- Medical, ISO/IEC 17020-Inspection, ISO/IEC 17025-Testing/Calibration, Quality Management Systems (QMS), Environmental Management Systems (EMS), Food Safety Management Systems (FSMS), Product except Global GAP and Green House Gas Validation / Verification. Test reports, Calibration certificates, Inspection reports and certifications issued by SLAB Accredited Laboratories, Inspection bodies and Certification bodies in Sri Lanka will be recognized and accepted internationally through the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA).
Role of APAC
APAC ‘s primary role is to manage and expand a mutual recognition arrangement (MRA) among accreditation bodies in the Asia Pacific region. The MRA facilitates the acceptance of conformity assessment results (e.g. test reports, test certificates, inspection reports, and certification) across the region and with other regions around the world. Conformity assessment results that are produced by conformity assessment bodies (CABs) that have been accredited by one APAC MRA signatory are accepted by all the other APAC MRA signatories. This mutual recognition and acceptance of conformity assessment results reduces the need to undertake duplicate testing, inspection or certification, thus saving time and money, increasing economic efficiency and facilitating international trade.
APAC’s members include accreditation bodies, accreditation focal points and other organizations that have an interest in accredited conformity assessment results.
APAC is recognized by the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) as one of four APEC Specialist Regional Bodies (SRBs) that support the work of the APEC Sub-Committee on Standards and Conformance.
For more information: https://www.apac-accreditation.org or provide link to APAC website
INTERNATIONAL LABORATORY ACCREDITATION COOPERATION (ILAC)
SLAB is a Full Member of ILAC
and is a signatory to the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) of ILAC. SLAB gained full membership and signatory status in the ILAC MRA in December 2009. The scope of ILAC MRA covers Testing Laboratories including Medical Testing Laboratories. Through this arrangement Quality certification of exports from Sri Lanka based on testing are recognized as equivalent to test reports issued in other countries thereby facilitating market access for Sri Lankan products.
The International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) is the international cooperation of Laboratory Inspection bodies formed more than 30 years ago to help remove technical barriers to trade. ILAC counts as its members laboratory and inspection accreditation bodies representing more than 70 economies and regional organizations. In conjunction with ILAC, specific regions have also established their own accreditation co-operations, notably in Europe (EA) and the Asia Pacific (APLAC). These regional co-operations work in harmony with ILAC and are represented on ILAC’s board of management. ILAC is encouraging the development of such regional co-operations in other parts of the globe.
INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITATION FORUM (IAF)
SLAB is a Full Member of IAF and a signatory to the Multi-Lateral Arrangement (MLA) of IAF. SLAB was admitted as a signatory to the Multi-Lateral Arrangement (MLA) of IAF for Management System Certification (QMS, EMS) and Product Certification since March 2014 and FSMS since November 2015.
The IAF is the world association of Conformity Assessment Accreditation Bodies and other bodies interested in conformity assessment in the fields of management systems, products, services, personnel and other similar programmes of conformity assessment. Its primary function 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. Accreditation assures users of the competence and impartiality of the body accredited.