Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated, as well as its own Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MRA), became fully operational on 1 January 2026, marking the transition to a single global accreditation body strengthening worldwide trust in global quality infrastructure.
NATA is a founding member of Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated, the new unified international accreditation organisation formed by merging the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC).
The new single organisation has taken over all IAF and ILAC functions and will introduce one MRA covering the scopes previously recognised under the IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) and the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA, providing a single clearer pathway for mutual recognition of accredited conformity assessment results.
By replacing two longstanding organisations with one, Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated aims to eliminate duplication, streamline decisions, and deliver a stronger, more coherent global accreditation system trusted by regulators, industry, and governments. Its key drivers include:
- Reducing fragmentation across accreditation systems
- Strengthening global trust in accredited results
- Harmonising technical requirements
- Speeding up decision making
- Supporting global supply chains and sustainability goals
For businesses, the new organisation will mean globally recognised accreditation, fewer duplications, and faster global access. Regulators can expect consistent accreditation standards and a single point of engagement, while consumers can look forward to stronger confidence in safety, sustainability claims, and product quality.
Membership in Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated spans accreditation bodies, regional cooperations, stakeholders, and technical committees. Most IAF and ILAC members have already applied to become members of Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated with more joining as national processes are completed.
To ensure minimal disruption to operations during the transition, the existing ILAC and IAF marks will remain valid until the Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated mark is fully adopted.