Globally recognized independent accreditation for certifiers, strengthening integrity and ensuring trusted certification outcomes
Accreditation delivers the highest level of independent verification of a certification body’s competence against defined private or regulatory standards. Through best-practice third-party assessment, impartiality, transparency and consistency are maintained, ensuring ongoing compliance, strengthened stakeholder trust and confidence in the certification system.
IOAS has been pioneering accreditation across organic and sustainability sectors for almost 30 years. Operating to ISO/IEC 17011 and as a Global ACI & APAC signatory, we are recognized for our depth of expertise, rigorous assessments and strong commitment to integrity. IOAS works closely with voluntary private standards and regulators worldwide to accredit certification bodies under ISO/IEC 17065, the baseline requirement for certification bodies seeking to demonstrate competence to scheme owners. With our diverse team of more than 40+ experts working across 75+ countries, we maintain core competencies in agriculture, textiles, animal welfare, cosmetics, recycling, fair trade, social accountability, and more.
Product Certification
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Our Process
Our process includes a comprehensive assessment followed by a formal accreditation decision and issuance of a formal certificate.
A comprehensive guide to IOAS accreditation is provided in our General Operating Manual, while specific requirements for each scheme are outlined in individual scheme Operating Manuals. Once accredited, the certification body undergoes ongoing annual surveillance and a 5-year reassessment cycle. The annual surveillance process is guided by scheme owner rules and our risk policy. Certification bodies have periodic on-site visits, with additional remote visits possible in cases of strong performance and if permitted by the scheme.