The role of APAC

APAC’s primary role is to administer and extend mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) among accreditation bodies in the Asia Pacific region. The MRA facilitates the acceptance of conformity assessment results (e.g. test reports, test certificates, inspection and certification certificates) throughout the region and with other regions of the world. world. Conformity assessment results by conformity assessment bodies (CABs) that have been recognized by one APAC MRA signatory will be accepted by all other APAC MRA signatories. The recognition and mutual acceptance of conformity assessment results reduces the need to perform repeated testing, inspection or certification, thereby saving time and costs, increasing economic efficiency and creating favorable for international trade.

Members of APAC include accreditation bodies, accreditation focal points and other organizations with an interest in accredited conformity assessment results.

APAC is recognized by the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) as one of four APEC Regional Professional Organizations (SRBs) that support the work of the APEC Subcommittee on Standards and Conformity.

History of APLAC

APLAC was established in 1992 as a forum for laboratory accreditation bodies in the Asia Pacific region. A Memorandum of Understanding on APLAC (MOU), which officially established APLAC, was signed by the founding members in April 1995.

The initial signing of the APLAC Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) took place on November 19, 1997, with seven accreditation bodies having signed the MRA on testing and calibration. The MRA was expanded in November 2003 to include inspection, and in April 2007 to add ISO 15189 which had been included in the “review” scope of the previous MRA. The initial signing of the APLAC MRA Extended Accreditation of Standard Materials Manufacturers (RMPs) took place in December 2007. The initial signing of the APLAC MRA Extended Accreditation of Proficiency Testing Providers (RMPs) took place in December 2007. PTP) took place in June 2014. By the end of 2018, APLAC had 38 accreditation bodies as signatories to the MRA.

History of PAC

The PAC started operating in 1995 and approved the first version of the Multilateral Recognition Agreement (MLA) in 1997. In 1998, the first 5 accreditation bodies signed the MLA for the scope of system certification. accredited quality management (QMS). In subsequent years, other areas were added, such as other management system certification activities (e.g. environmental management systems, food safety management systems), certification product, person certification, and greenhouse gas assessment and testing. At the end of 2018, the PAC had 26 accreditation bodies that had signed the MLA.