Merger of the IAF and ILAC Organizations

Merger of the IAF and ILAC Organizations 

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While searching International Accreditation Forum (IAF) guidelines for the ISO 9001:2026 transition, I found that the IAF and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) merged into Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated (Global ACI) on 1 January 2026. This was not sudden; planning had been under way since 2019. 

The IAF (established in 1993) was the global forum for accreditation of certification bodies covering management systems (such as ISO 9001), products, personnel, and validation/verification. ILAC was the forum for laboratories, inspection bodies, calibration, and related fields. Each maintained its own multilateral recognition arrangement—the IAF MLA and the ILAC MRA. 

The two bodies ran separate administrative systems, committees, peer-evaluation processes, and policies. As globalization and conformity assessment became more closely linked, that dual structure created unnecessary duplication and complexity. The decision to merge was taken so that there would be:

- a single international recognition system,

- a single peer-evaluation framework,

- harmonized policies and governance,

- greater efficiency, and

- a stronger voice on global issues such as trade, sustainability, and technical trust.

At the 19th IAF–ILAC Joint General Assembly in Frankfurt on 29 October 2019, members resolved to create a single international accreditation organization. The constitution was endorsed in Berlin in October 2024. The new body was registered as an Incorporated Society in New Zealand on 6 December 2024. Leadership was elected at the final meetings in Bangkok in October 2025. Global ACI began full operations on 1 January 2026, and IAF and ILAC ceased operating. The public identity—name, logo, and website (Link)—was launched on 14 April 2026.

The IAF MLA and ILAC MRA are now combined in a single Global ACI MRA. Existing accredited certificates, reports, and results remain valid; there is no disruption. Legacy IAF/ILAC marks may continue to be used during the transition until the new mark is legally available in a given economy. IAF and ILAC remain in existence for a period so that their marks can be protected; they will later be wound up.

In short, two parallel global systems were brought into one framework to simplify, harmonize, and strengthen international trade and trust. For existing certificate holders, the practical effect is virtually none.

Note: Mandatory documents for the ISO 9001:2026 transition are now issued by Global ACI, not IAF (for example, Global ACI-TECH-3-TR). Such guidance should therefore be sought on the Global ACI website.

Regards, 

Keshav Ram Singhal