The European co-operation for Accreditation (EA) has developed a Multilateral Agreement (EA MLA) Mark as a symbol of trust and technical competence, signifying that conformity assessment bodies (CABs) accredited by EA MLA signatory National Accreditation Bodies (NABs) meet internationally recognised standards. Its use demonstrates participation in a harmonised accreditation infrastructure that supports mutual recognition across Europe and globally, including the requirements within the European regulation on accreditation: Regulation (EC) No 765/2008.
This page outlines the appropriate use of the EA MLA Mark to ensure consistency, credibility, and compliance with EA requirements. It details how the mandatory requirements within EA publication EA-3/01 S2 (Supplement 2 to EA-3/01 – Rules on the use of EA MLA Mark in the UK) shall be met by UKAS accredited CABs.
Scope
This page addresses the use of the EA MLA Mark by UKAS-accredited CABs providing their accredited services to customers in countries where the EA MLA Mark has been registered)
Rules for the use of the MLA mark
The EA MLA Mark may be used, in combination with the appropriate UKAS accreditation symbol, by any CAB that holds current UKAS accreditation for a conformity assessment activity that falls within UKAS’s EA MLA scope. This scope defines the specific activities for which UKAS is a signatory to the EA Multilateral Agreement. Details of UKAS’s MLA scope can be found in the Directory of EA Members and MLA Signatories, available on the EA website at www.european-accreditation.org.
The use of the EA MLA Mark is strictly limited to UKAS and its accredited CABs, and only for accredited services delivered in countries where the Mark is officially registered. A list of countries where the Mark is registered, including the United Kingdom, is maintained by the EA Secretariat and can be accessed via the EA website.
CABs are permitted to use the EA MLA Mark in combination with the appropriate UKAS accreditation symbol, provided the use relates to conformity assessment results that fall within their scope of UKAS accreditation. The Mark may be displayed on certificates, reports, correspondence (postal or electronic), social media, and other publicity materials, as long as its use is not misleading regarding the scope of accreditation and remains clearly within UKAS’s EA MLA scope. Furthermore, any use of the EA MLA Mark must comply with the rules established by UKAS for the use of its corresponding accreditation symbol. These rules are detailed in the document National Accreditation Logo and Symbols: Conditions for Use, available from the Publications page on the UKAS website.
The EA MLA Mark must always be used in combination with, or in close proximity to, the appropriate UKAS symbol, displayed with equivalent dimensions and in a manner that avoids confusion regarding who is issuing the document or attestation. Under no circumstances shall a CAB use the EA MLA Mark in isolation.
The right of a CAB to use the EA MLA Mark shall cease immediately should its accreditation be withdrawn or suspended for whatever reason, or in the event that UKAS ceases to be a signatory to the EA MLA.
Misuse and sanctions
Misuse of the EA MLA Mark by CABs will result in sanctions imposed by UKAS, in accordance with its enforcement procedures. In addition, the European co-operation for Accreditation reserves the right to apply legal sanctions under the terms of the Mark’s registration in cases of misuse by any organisation, including CABs, within the relevant jurisdictions. These measures are in place to protect the integrity of the EA MLA Mark and ensure its use remains consistent with the principles of recognised accreditation across the EA Region.
The EA MLA mark
The EA MLA Mark is a collective mark, and it is a condition of its use within the UK that this is clearly indicated by including the words ‘A Collective Mark’ underneath the logo, as shown below:
The text ‘A Collective Mark’ should be centrally located below the logo, with the size and font consistent with that used for the accreditation number under the associated UKAS symbol. If necessary this may be provided over one or two lines, but must be legible.
Reproduction rules
The EA MLA Mark, used in combination with the appropriate UKAS symbol, must:
- Be used in its original, designed proportions, not rotated, distorted, compressed or stretched in any way;
- Not appear in a size or with a background that renders the words unreadable;
- Not be reproduced with a width under 15 mm.
- Not be hidden or superimposed in total or partially by any other image, text or graphical image;
- Be reproduced using the original graphical file of the EA MLA Mark provided by UKAS.
The EA MLA Mark shall be positioned such that the UKAS symbol may be either above, below or on either side of the EA MLA Mark, but shall appear in close proximity to each other.
Further details on the reproduction of the Mark can be found in the Annex to EA Publication EA-3/01 S2 (Supplement 2 to EA-3/01 – Rules on the use of EA MLA Mark in the UK), available from the EA website (www.european-accreditation.org)
