North America Accreditation Body (NAAB) is an independent accreditation body operating within its own accreditation framework and in accordance with applicable international conformity assessment standards and principles.
NAAB is committed to maintaining its accreditation practices in alignment with applicable IAF rules, requirements, policies, and internationally recognized accreditation practices, where relevant to the applicable accreditation scheme and scope.
For clarity and transparency, IAF membership and IAF MLA Signatory status are distinct concepts. The IAF’s published information distinguishes between IAF Members and organizations that have achieved IAF MLA Signatory status through the applicable evaluation and recognition process.
The IAF MLA is a multilateral recognition arrangement designed to facilitate mutual recognition of accredited certification and related conformity assessment results among its signatories and within the applicable scope.
Accordingly, the absence of an accreditation body from an IAF MLA Signatory list should not, by itself, be interpreted as a statement that the organization is prohibited from operating as an accreditation body. IAF MLA Signatory status represents a specific international recognition status and is distinct from the application of internationally recognized accreditation principles and requirements.
NAAB does not claim IAF MLA Signatory status. NAAB nevertheless seeks to maintain its accreditation activities in accordance with applicable international standards and relevant IAF requirements and practices.
The acceptance of an accreditation or certification result remains subject to the applicable accreditation scope and the requirements of the relevant customer, regulator, tendering organization, contractual arrangement, or destination market.
Transparency Statement:
NAAB is committed to impartiality, competence, consistency, transparency, and internationally harmonized accreditation practices. NAAB does not represent its accreditation status as IAF MLA recognition unless and until such status is formally granted and officially published by the competent international recognition arrangement.
NAABNorth America Accreditation Body