Who is the IAF (International Accreditation Forum)?
The International Accreditation Forum is the worldwide association of accreditation bodies. The IAF members are a representation of 83 government and semi-government accreditation bodies and industry associations from around the world. They all work together to govern and achieve the goal of the IAF and reach their common trade facilitation objectives around the world.
"Certified once, accepted everywhere."
What is an Accreditation Body?
Accreditation Bodies accredit certification bodies to demonstrate that they are competent and can be relied on to issue certifications to organizations. Accreditation Bodies are normally government or semi government organizations. Accreditation Bodies are members of IAF. Accreditation bodies will accredit certification bodies to particular standards, once the certification body has been accredited for that standard they can then audit and certify organizations that relate to that particular standard. There are 83 IAF member Accreditation Bodies.
See a list of IAF accreditation bodies here.
What is an Accredited Certification Body?
A certification body which has been accredited by an IAF member Accreditation Body. These certification bodies have gone through a rigorous accreditation process which demonstrates competence to issue certifications to organizations for the standards and scopes they have been accredited. Certification bodies have received independent third-party endorsement by an accreditation body which is typically a government organization. There are over 2,000 certification bodies globally.
See a list of IAF accredited certification bodies here.
What is an Accredited Certification?
A certification that has been issued by a Certification Body which has been accredited by an Accreditation Body who is a member of the IAF.
Organizations that have been audited by an accredited certification body and proven to meet the standard, receive certification for that standard. There are over 1.6 million companies who have received management system certifications and millions more who have received product certification.
What is IAFCertSearch?
IAF CertSearch is the global certification database. IAF CertSearch has been established by the International Accreditation Forum and its members so accredited certifications from around the world can be verified. IAF CertSearch is the global database where users can search and validate the status of an accredited certification issued by a Certification Body which has been accredited by an IAF signatory member Accreditation Body under main scope ISO/IEC 17021-1.
IAF CertSearch aggregates data from the IAF, the Accreditation Bodies and Certification Bodies from around the world to ensure the 1. certification is valid, 2. the certification body is accredited to issue certifications for that standard and 3. the accreditation body is an IAF member and MLA signatory.
IAF CertSearch is a simple and easy way to validate an organizations certification(s).
What is QualityTrade?
Quality Trade is a trade platform which helps users (procurement professionals) connect and trade with certified companies who legitimately hold a valid accredited certification which has been issued by a certification body who has been accredited by an IAF member accreditation body and who’s certificate appears in the IAF global certification database. QualityTrade aggregates certified suppliers into one place to make it easy for procurement professionals to find and trade with certified organizations. With QualityTrade and IAF CertSearch users can develop and maintain certified supply chains.
Why trade with an accredited certified organizations
Connecting procurement professionals with the global network of certified suppliers helps them create industry-leading, trusted supply chains that reduce risk, increase productivity and economic outcomes for their organization.
Trading with certified organizations reduces supply chain risk. When trading with certified organizations users can be confident they will receive high quality and safe products and services consistently and reliably from the highest quality, most productive, safest, and sustainable organizations in the world.
How do I get an accredited certification?
To receive an accredited certification, contact an accredited certification body.
See a list of accredited certification bodies included on IAF CertSearch global certification database here.
About ISO Standard
Key player in obtaining certification
- IAF - The International Accreditation Forum, is the worldwide association of accreditation bodies.
- Accreditation bodies (ABs) – ABs grant accreditation to conformity assessment bodies.
- Accredited Certification bodies – Certification bodies are a type of Conformity Assessment Body that have been accredited by an IAF member accreditation body to issue certificates for the standards they have been accredited for, they audit businesses and certify them to specific standards.
- ISO - The ISO develops, writes and publishes standards; they do not audit, accredit or certify.
Accredited ISO Certification
Certificates that prove compliance with the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) standards which have been issued by accredited certification bodies are sought by businesses all over the world. While the process towards achieving accredited certification status from an accredited certification body can be challenging, time consuming and expensive, it provides a myriad of benefits to any business.
Who is ISO?
The International Organization for Standardization, or The ISO, develops, writes and publishes standards. The ISO was established in 1947, and is the largest publisher of voluntary international standards in the world – having published 21,000 standards. The organization is comprised of a series of industry experts and professional engineers with extensive experience and studies in their respective fields. The ISO researches, writes and publishes sets of industry standards to promote quality and innovation. Their standards are voluntary, but they are world renowned and respected for their effectiveness.
What are the benefits of accredited certification?
There are many benefits to obtaining an accredited ISO certification for your business. Here is a general picture of what you can expect:
Internal benefits:
- Develop a system that will help and support your staff, and improve customer satisfaction.
- Improve quality and service.
- Become more efficient and cut down on time and costs.
- Provide continual improvement.
- Improve your reputation.
- Quantify, monitor and control the impact of operations on the environment.
External benefits:
- Access to new markets. For example, QualityTrade only features businesses who have received an accredited certification.
- Demonstrate your level of compliance to prospective buyers, particularly in international trade.
Popular Standards
ISO 9000 Family
Quality Management
The ISO 9000 family of standards concern quality management and provide guidance and tools for companies who want to ensure their products continually meet customer’s requirements.
ISO 14000 Family
Environmental Management
This family provides practical tools for companies looking to manage their environmental responsibilities.
ISO 45001
Occupational Health and Safety
For improving employee safety, reducing workplace risks, and creating better conditions.
ISO 13485
Medical Devices
Regulatory requirements are stringent throughout every step of a product’s life cycle.
ISO 22000
Food Safety Management
ISO’s food safety management standards help organizations control food safety hazards.
ISO 5001
Energy Management
Provides a practical way to improve energy use through an energy management system.
ISO 27001
Information Security Management
Enables organizations to manage the security of information assets.
ISO 26000
Social Responsibility
Guidance for businesses committed to operating in a socially responsible way.
How to Get Certified?
Getting an accredited ISO certification is a thorough process and can take time. Here is a general overview:
- Purchase a copy of the ISO standard to familiarize yourself with the requirements.
- Request the accredited certification body or a consultant to do a pre-assessment and gap analysis.
- Prepare a readiness review for your audit.
- The accreditation body will assess your changes for compliance to the standard.
- If successful, your organization will be granted a certification that will be uploaded into the IAF global certification database.
Counterfeit or Fake ISO certifications
Accredited certifications hold high value which attracts counterfeit. Always check that the certification body is listed on the IAF global certification database to confirm legitimacy.