Accreditation is an endorsement of an organisation's competence, credibility, independence and integrity in carrying out its conformity assessment activities. This endorsement is manifested in the use of the mark of accreditation (Accreditation Logo) when it certifies an organisation or on test reports and calibration certificates.
Accreditation promotes good practices in manufacturing and services and is regarded as an assurance of quality. It has gained global acceptance and facilitates trade. With accreditation, companies need not go for multiple assessment in different countries as its products and services offered would be of internationally accepted standards. It also promotes research and development on manufacturing and testing facilities, and processes.
Accreditation has provided a sound basis for mutual recognition arrangements on conformity assessment between regulators and accreditation bodies as well as trading partners. This support has enabled accreditation to serve as a backbone of infrastructure in support of government to government Free Trade Agreements.
Some instances of multilateral mutual recognition arrangements (MRAs/MLAs) are:
