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Roles and Benefits

Global ACI is the principal international organisation for developing and harmonising laboratory, certification body, inspection body, proficiency testing provider, validation/verification body, reference material producer and biobank accreditation practices.

 

Global ACI’s primary purpose is to establish an international arrangement between member accreditation bodies based on peer evaluation and mutual acceptance. Global ACI provides a globally accepted approach recognised by governments, regulators, and markets – reducing duplication, opening access to trade, and building trust in results worldwide. Through this, it helps create safer societies, stronger economies, and a more sustainable world.

Roles of Global ACI

  • Defining criteria and normative documents to achieve consistency and effective accreditation of conformity assessment bodies by Global ACI members.
  • Reducing technical barriers to trade by maintaining the Global ACI Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) among Global ACI MRA signatories.
  • Promoting the consistent application of accredited conformity assessment activities to international consensus-based standards and conformity assessment schemes in order to benefit trade, safety, security and sustainability.
  • Promoting the increased use and acceptance of accredited conformity assessment results internationally.
  • Providing advice and assistance to organisations from developing economies that are in the process of developing their own accreditation systems. These developing organisations are able to participate in Global ACI as Associate Members, and access the resources of Global ACI’s more established members.

MRA Benefits

The purpose of the Global ACI MRA is to ensure mutual recognition of accredited conformity assessment certificates, reports and statements between signatories to the MRA, and subsequently acceptance of accredited conformity assessment results in many markets based on one accreditation.

 

Visit the Public Sector Assurance Website

Standards and accreditation can be a significant asset in the public sector toolkit to meet policy objectives. Public Sector Assurance showcases how accredited conformity assessment is used by central and local governments and regulators to deliver positive benefits, by providing case studies from around the world in key policy areas demonstrating how different tools are able to deliver results.

For Government

The Global ACI MRA provides governments with a credible and robust framework on which to further develop and enhance government-to-government bilateral and multilateral international trade agreements. The long-term aim is the fully accepted use and recognition, by both public and private industries, of accredited conformity assessment from other economies. In this way, the free-trade goal of ‘accredited once, accepted everywhere’ can be realised.

For Regulators

The Global ACI MRA represents an internationally recognised ‘stamp of approval’ to demonstrate compliance against agreed standards and requirements. Risk is consequently minimised, as decisions are based on reliable conformity assessment results. Many specifiers, such as government agencies, have recognised the importance of credible accreditation programs that are developed against internationally recognised standards. Accreditation and the Global ACI MRA help regulators meet their own legislated responsibilities by providing a globally recognised system to accept accredited reports, certificates and statements.

 

Visit the Business Benefits Website

This website, jointly developed by global quality infrastructure partners, showcases how accredited conformity assessment is used around the world by businesses of all sizes and sectors to deliver positive benefits. This site includes case studies, research papers, and supporting materials to illustrate the value of adopting accredited standards. The examples published on the site cite tangible financial data to illustrate cost savings achieved whether through resource efficiencies or meeting regulation(s) at lower cost, the value of accessing new markets, or savings achieved through recognition from organisations such as insurers, regulators or purchasers.

For Business

The Global ACI MRA provides businesses that are procuring products and services with greater confidence in their consistency of quality. Businesses can therefore select suppliers from further afield in the knowledge that they will receive products and services that conform to recognised standards.

For Manufacturers

Having products assessed as conforming to a particular standard allows manufacturers and service providers to distinguish themselves from less reputable suppliers, thereby creating a competitive advantage. The Global ACI MRA ensures that standards, specifications and conformity assessment methods are the same, allowing one certificate, report or statement to be recognised around the world. This lowers the cost of accredited conformity assessment and reduces the risk of products or services being rejected by international trading partners.

For Consumers

Consumer confidence can be gained from goods or services that bear a mark or carry a certificate of conformity. The Global ACI MRA ensures that such goods and services placed on the market, from whichever country of origin, meet standards of quality and safety, or environmental and social responsibility.