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About Global ACI

About Global ACI

The Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated (Global ACI) is the international authority on the accreditation of laboratories, certification bodies, inspection bodies, proficiency testing providers, validation/verification bodies, reference material producers and biobanks.
Global ACI members include accreditation bodies, regional cooperation bodies and stakeholder organisations from around the world.

Accreditation is the independent evaluation of conformity assessment bodies against recognised standards to ensure their impartiality and competence.
Competent, impartial, and transparent accreditation builds global trust – giving people confidence that products, services, and systems are safe, reliable, and contribute to a more sustainable everyday life.

Accreditation bodies are established in many economies with the primary purpose of ensuring that conformity assessment bodies are subject to oversight by an authoritative body. Through the application of national and international standards, government, procurers and consumers can have confidence in the calibration and test results, inspection reports and certifications provided.

99
Full Members
33
Associate Members
0
Stakeholders Members
6
Regional Members

Accreditation body members of Global ACI operate in accordance with ISO/IEC 17011 and are involved in the accreditation of various types of conformity assessment bodies:

 

  • Testing laboratories (using ISO/IEC 17025)
  • Calibration laboratories (using ISO/IEC 17025)
  • Inspection bodies (using ISO/IEC 17020)
  • Management system certification bodies (using ISO/IEC 17021-1)
  • Product certification bodies (using ISO/IEC 17065)
  • Medical testing laboratories (using ISO 15189)
  • Proficiency testing providers (using ISO/IEC 17043)
  • Persons certification bodies (using ISO/IEC 17024)
  • Validation/verification bodies (using ISO/IEC 17029)
  • Reference material producers (using ISO 17034)
  • Biobanking facilities (using ISO 20387)

 

Accreditation bodies that have been peer evaluated as competent sign regional and international arrangements to demonstrate their competence. These accreditation bodies then assess and accredit conformity assessment bodies to the relevant standards.

 

The arrangements support the provision of local or national services, such as providing safe food and clean drinking water, providing energy, delivering health and social care or maintaining an unpolluted environment. In addition, the arrangements enhance the acceptance of products and services across national borders, thereby creating a framework to support international trade through the removal of technical barriers.

 

Global ACI operates the Global ACI Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MRA) between Global ACI member signatories, allowing for the mutual recognition of accredited certificates, reports and statements in economies worldwide.

 

Global ACI was launched on 01 January 2026, further to a decision by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) to establish a single international organisation for accreditation. Activities formerly covered by IAF and ILAC are now all covered by Global ACI, streamlining global efforts to promote accreditation and the quality infrastructure. For more information about Global ACI’s replacement of IAF and ILAC, please refer to our FAQ.