International • 3 mins read
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The Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated officially came into operation on 1 January 2026, ushering in a new, streamlined era for international accreditation cooperation. The organisation brings together the former roles and activities of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation () and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) into a single, unified global body, providing greater coherence, efficiency and clarity for accreditation stakeholders worldwide.
Leadership arrangements for the new organisation were agreed at the final ILAC and IAF meetings held in Bangkok in October 2025, ensuring continuity and stability through the transition. Brahim Houla (GAC, Gulf States) was appointed President, with Emanuele Riva (Accredia, Italy) appointed Vice Chair. Chairs and Vice Chairs of Global ACI’s committees were subsequently confirmed via online ballots during the first quarter of 2026, enabling broad member engagement from the outset.
Global ACI brings together accreditation bodies and stakeholders from 142 countries, reflecting its truly global reach and reinforcing international confidence in accreditation as a critical enabler of trade, regulation and public trust. UKAS is an active member and continues to play a strong role in shaping the organisation’s technical and strategic direction.
In mid‑April 2026, the organisation formally introduced its operating acronym, Global ACI, together with a new logo and website (www. global-aci.org) that reflects its integrated global mission. Shortly afterwards, Global ACI held its first full round of committee meetings in Prague during the week commencing 20 April 2026, marking an important milestone in moving from transition to delivery.
The Prague meetings included sessions of the three Technical Committees:
- TC1 – Laboratories and related activities
- TC2 – Inspection
- TC3 – Certification and Verification
UKAS participated actively across all three Technical Committees, underlining its ongoing commitment to international collaboration. Adam Ward (UKAS) was confirmed as Vice Chair of Technical Committee 3, strengthening UKAS’s contribution to the development of accreditation policy and practice in the certification and verification space.
UKAS representatives also took part in the Accreditation Committee, which provides oversight of ISO/IEC 17011 and cross‑standard issues, and the Arrangements Committee, which is responsible for the Global ACI Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MRA). The new MRA replaces the former ILAC MRA and IAF MLA, offering a single, simplified framework to support international recognition and confidence in accredited conformity assessment.
Further meetings during the week included the Stakeholder Committee, Development Support Committee and Communications Committee, highlighting Global ACI’s strong emphasis on external engagement, transparency and effective communication with regulators, industry and other interested parties.
The week concluded with a meeting of the General Assembly and the signing of Memoranda of Understanding with key international partners, including the World Anti‑Doping Agency (WADA), the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). These agreements underline Global ACI’s commitment to close cooperation with international organisations, strengthening alignment between accreditation, standardisation, regulation and global development objectives.
The General Assembly also provided members with an opportunity to align on priorities and next steps. While committees are naturally in their early forming and norming stages, discussions demonstrated strong momentum and a shared commitment to success. Considerable progress was made in clarifying terms of reference, committee structures and approaches to sub‑committees and working groups, laying solid foundations for effective and inclusive delivery.
Overall, the launch of Global ACI represents a positive and forward‑looking step for the global accreditation community, offering greater alignment, reduced duplication and a stronger collective voice. For members such as UKAS, it provides an enhanced platform to influence international accreditation policy, support global confidence in accredited conformity assessment, and deliver tangible benefits for regulators, businesses and consumers alike.