In today’s interconnected global marketplace, trust in testing, inspection, and certification is essential. Manufacturers, regulators, and consumers all depend on reliable conformity assessment results to ensure safety, quality, and compliance. One of the most powerful mechanisms for building this trust is the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA)
The MRA is a cornerstone of international trade and global accreditation infrastructure, providing a pathway to reduce duplicated effort, cut costs, and enhanced confidence.
What is a Mutual Recognition Arrangement?
A Mutual Recognition Arrangement is an international agreement in which two or more Accreditation Bodies (ABs) such as NATA or governments agree to recognise each other’s conformity assessment results such as test reports, certifications, inspections, or calibrations.
According to the United Nations publication on conformity assessment, MRAs allow parties “to recognize the results of each other’s testing, inspection, certification or accreditation,” reducing the need for repeated assessments across borders.
The MRA creates legally binding or voluntary frameworks enabling countries to accept one another’s conformity assessment processes, building confidence and reducing duplication for businesses and regulators.
Where NATA Fits in the Global System
For NATA accredited organisations, the MRA isn’t just a global concept, it’s what enables accredited test reports, inspection results and calibrations to be accepted internationally. NATA is a signatory to the APAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA), and through this framework NATA’s accredited results are also recognised globally under the ILAC MRA and from 1 January 2026, these arrangements are being brought together under Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated, creating one clearer pathway for mutual recognition worldwide.
Why the MRA Matters in the Accreditation Ecosystem
1. Reduction of Duplicate Testing and Certification
One of the most significant benefits of the MRA is the elimination of repetitive compliance procedures. For example, NATA accredited laboratories can issue reports and certificates that are accepted internationally without re-testing. The MRA removes the need for duplicative re-testing, re-inspection or re-calibration of goods upon entry to importing countries.
2. Increased International Trade Efficiency
By simplifying cross border acceptance of conformity assessment results, MRAs lower barriers to market entry. They reduce multiple conformity assessments and contribute to the efficiency of the international trading system by enabling acceptance of goods and services on the basis of a single assessment in one country.
3. Strengthened Global Confidence in Accreditation
MRAs are built on rigorous peer evaluations. Accreditation bodies must comply with international standards such as ISO/IEC 17011 to participate, ensuring consistent quality and impartiality across the system. They build confidence among distributors, retailers, consumers and other stakeholders worldwide.
4. Support for Regulatory Cooperation
For government-to-government agreements, the MRA also reduces administrative burden. They allow regulators to depend on accredited results from abroad, speeding up approvals and improving oversight. MRAs also exist across diverse sectors including laboratory accreditation and certification schemes.
How the Mutual Recognition Arrangement Works
The MRA relies on a framework of peer evaluation, in which accreditation bodies such as NATA assess each other’s performance against agreed standards.
These signatories undergo “intensive peer evaluation” to ensure they meet the requirements of ISO/IEC 17011 and that the bodies they accredit comply with the relevant standards (e.g., ISO/IEC 17025, ISO/IEC 17020, ISO/IEC 17065).
Once accepted, the accreditation body is authorised to use international marks such as the ILAC/Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated MRA Mark, which signals international recognition through the global MRA system.
At a Glance Impact on Organisations and Industries
For Businesses
- Faster market access
- Lower compliance costs
- Reduced time-to-market
- Simplified export processes
For Consumers
- Greater assurance of product safety and reliability
- Consistent quality standards internationally
For Regulators
- Streamlined oversight
- Less duplication
- Greater alignment with global best practices
So overall, the Mutual Recognition Arrangement is fundamental to the global accreditation and conformity assessment landscape. They reduce barriers to trade, enhance confidence in compliance results, and promote international cooperation. Built on the backbone of peer evaluation and common standards, the MRA enables accredited reports and certificates to function as globally trusted documents empowering businesses, regulators, and consumers alike.