Members of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation and the IEC Conformity Assessment Schemes have been cooperating on a number of technical and administrative issues to maximise the efficiencies of member bodies when dealing with common testing laboratory clients. This cooperation has included conduct of a series of joint ILAC/IECEE laboratory assessments; recognition of laboratory accreditation by IECEx; the establishment of a Joint ILAC/IEC-CAB Technical Panel; and a Joint Policy Panel to explore possibilities for recognition of the respective organisation’s assessments and related activities. Such recognition should facilitate the future conduct of relevant laboratory assessments, reduce duplication of activities and maximise the harmony in technical evaluations conducted by both ILAC and IEC.
As a result of confidence established between the IEC-CAB and Members of ILAC, the Parties have agreed to formalise their future cooperation and the recognitions that each Party may acknowledge the other Party’s relevant activities.