Our Global Presence

Although IOAS is a US-based organization, we were established as and have always had a global mission and operation. Our first applicants for accreditation were from Australia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Italy and the USA. Our first staff members were based in the USA and the United Kingdom and our global reach continues to this day. This gives IOAS a unique presence, expertise and empathy with producers, manufacturers, traders, certification bodies, scheme owners and regulators all over the world. 

In addition to providing assessment and accreditation services worldwide, we use that knowledge and presence to contribute to initiatives, projects, scheme development and regulations that are relevant to our work. Some examples of these activities are:  

  • We are a signatory of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) as well as a signatory to the Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC) Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA). IOAS staff regularly sit on committees in both organizations aimed at harmonizing the work of accreditation bodies and certification bodies across the world. 
  • We were a member of an ISO working group to draft ISO/IEC 17065.
  • We are currently a member of an ISO/CASCO task force to revise ISO/IEC 17067 and an IAF task force to develop an informative document on the accreditation of bodies engaged in the certification of organic production.
  • We were a main contributor and author of a project led by the International Trade Cooperation, Food and Agriculture Organization and IFOAM established to improve harmonization in organic sector regulation.
  • We have conducted numerous training courses on organic certification and accreditation for regulators, certification bodies and other interested parties. 
  • We have contributed to industry initiatives against fraud in organic production.
  • We have provided seed funding to the Alliance for Organic Integrity (www.alliancefororganicintegrity.bio).
  • We implemented a one-year investigation into organic supply chains for a major regulator.
  • We have worked with various donors, most recently UNIDO, in support of projects to support the development of local organic production and certification.

IOAS Global Footprint