International recognition and the use of accreditation marks

Accreditation is an international system based on common standards. Through agreements between accreditation bodies, results from accredited bodies can also be recognized in other countries. This may include, for example, testing, calibration, certification, inspection, validation, and verification. The cooperation is expanding, and an increasing number of accreditation bodies are joining the agreements.

International agreements

Swedac is a member of the international accreditation organizations EA, IAF and ILAC. Swedac has agreements with these organizations on mutual recognition of accreditations.

The agreements are called the MLA (Multilateral Agreement) and the MRA (Mutual Recognition Agreement). They mean that Swedac follows common international rules and recognizes accreditations from other member bodies that are equivalent to our own.

The agreements also mean that Swedac has been assessed by the organizations within the scopes covered by the agreements. The assessments show that Swedac meets the international requirements placed on an accreditation body.

Within the EU, the requirements are regulated by EU Regulation 2008/765. For the global organizations, the requirements are specified in the documents IAF PL 6 and ILAC-P5.

Below are the areas in which Swedac is a signatory in each organization, as well as links to their websites for more information.

New global accreditation organization

Swedac is also a member of Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated. This is a new global organization that, from January 2026, will replace IAF and ILAC.

The purpose is to create a clearer structure, pool resources, and simplify international cooperation. In the long term, current marks, agreements, and requirements documents will be replaced by common solutions within the new organization.

IAF MLA and ILAC MRA marks

Reports and certificates issued under Swedac’s accreditation and referring to any of the specified standards are covered by the respective agreement. This means that they are as reliable as corresponding documents from other accreditation bodies that are part of the agreements.

The IAF MLA and ILAC MRA marks are international symbols. They show that a certification, report, or assessment has been carried out by a body accredited by a recognized party within IAF’s or ILAC’s agreements.

An accredited body may apply to use the MLA or MRA marks on its certificates, reports, and statements.

Link to application form

European Accreditation

Swedac is a signatory to the EA MLA for the following areas:

Testing – ISO/IEC 17025 (laboratories)
Testing – ISO 15189 (medical laboratories)
Calibration – ISO/IEC 17025
Inspection – ISO/IEC 17020
Certification of management system – ISO/IEC 17021-1
Certification of products – ISO/IEC 17065
Certification of personnel – ISO/IEC 17024
Proficiency testing of laboratories – ISO/IEC 17043
Validation and verification – ISO/IEC 17029

EA’s signature on the agreement means that EA has assessed that Swedac, within the mentioned accreditation areas, meets the requirements for accreditation bodies set within the EU according to EC Regulation 2008/765.

All reports and certificates bearing Swedac’s accreditation mark, and that include a reference to any of the aforementioned standards, or that contain a reference to Swedac accreditation according to STAFS 2020:1, are issued under accreditation covered by the EA MLA agreement.

More information about the EA MLA agreement

International Accreditation Forum (IAF)

Swedac is a signatory to the IAF MLA for the following main areas:

Certification of Management Systems – ISO/IEC 17021-1
Certification of Products – ISO/IEC 17065
Certification of Persons – ISO/IEC 17024
Validation and Verification – ISO 17029

More Areas under IAF

Swedac is also a signatory to the IAF MLA for the following sub-areas:

Certification of Quality Management Systems – ISO/IEC 17021-1 – ISO 9001 (QMS)
Certification of Environmental Management Systems – ISO/IEC 17021-1 – ISO 14001 (EMS)
Certification of Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems – ISO/IEC 17021-1 – ISO 45001 (OH&SMS)
Certification of Food Safety Management Systems – ISO/IEC 17021-1 – ISO 22000 (FSMS)
Certification of Food Safety Management Systems – ISO/IEC 17021-1 – FSSC 22000 scheme part 2
Certification of Information Security Management Systems – ISO/IEC 17021-1 – ISO 27001 (ISMS)
Certification of Medical Device Management Systems – ISO/IEC 17021-1 – ISO 13485 (MDMS)
Certification of Energy Management Systems – ISO/IEC 17021-1 – ISO 50001 (EnMS)
Certification of Products – ISO/IEC 17065 – Global G.A.P.
Validation and Verification of Greenhouse gases – ISO/IEC 17029 – ISO 14064-1, 14064-2

More information on IAF:s website