David Crucefix, IOAS Executive Director recently attended the annual meetings of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), the global family of accreditation bodies. Taking place in Berlin over 10 days the meetings initially covered technical aspects brought by working groups including product certification, food (including organic certification) as well as wider topics related to management systems, environmental management and sustainability claims. IOAS has been a signatory of the IAF multi-lateral agreement since 2017.
Subsequent meetings focused on the ongoing process of IAF and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) to merge into one organisation, the Global Accreditation Cooperation (GLOBAC). The following was agreed at the first GLOBAC General Assembly:
On 9 October 2024, the ILAC and IAF Chairs and Vice-Chairs officially started the registration process of the Global Accreditation Cooperation (GLOBAC) in New Zealand, with IAF and ILAC members in attendance. This step comes after ILAC and IAF members approved the GLOBAC Constitution and General Rules through a positive vote.