International • 3 mins read
3 mins read
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The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) and National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia (NATA), have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen collaboration and support trade and regulatory alignment between the United Kingdom and Australia.
The agreement reflects the long-standing partnership between UKAS and NATA as national accreditation bodies and reinforces their shared commitment to international standards, mutual recognition, and excellence in conformity assessment activities.
Under the MoU, UKAS and NATA will:
- Exchange knowledge and insights on international accreditation programs and policy developments;
- Share experiences and support each other in continuous improvement of assessment programs;
- Enhance communication to foster greater understanding of each country’s accreditation systems;
- Facilitate regulatory cooperation, where requested by government, to reduce barriers to trade and improve market access;
- Promote the role of accreditation in strengthening trust in products and services in both domestic and export markets.
UKAS Chief Executive Matt Gantley added:
“This agreement reinforces the longstanding cooperation between our two organisations – an important milestone as we welcome in our fourth decade and look ahead to the vital role accreditation will continue to play in supporting quality, innovation and trust in a changing world. By working together, we can better support our respective governments, industries and communities, especially as we navigate evolving trade frameworks and emerging technologies.”
NATA CEO Jennifer Evans said:
“Accreditation helps provide industries, regulators and consumers confidence that conformity assessment is being done competently. This MoU with UKAS reflects our shared values and strengthens our capacity to support cross-border confidence in testing, inspection and certification services.”
The MoU is effective from June 2025 and will remain in place for an initial four-year term, with the option for renewal. It aligns with both organisations’ participation in global accreditation networks, including the International Laboratory Accreditation
Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), which are transitioning into the new Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated framework.
About UKAS
UKAS is the United Kingdom’s national accreditation body, appointed by government to assess and accredit organisations that provide conformity assessment services. UKAS works across a wide range of industries to support quality, trust and compliance.
About NATA
NATA is Australia’s national accreditation body, recognised by the Commonwealth Government to assess the competence of testing, calibration, inspection and related services. Through accreditation, NATA helps ensure that services meet rigorous standards and that data can be trusted – both in Australia and internationally.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Claire Widd
Head of Marketing and Communications
UKAS
M: +44 7471 576 650
Brendon Moo
Head of Strategic Engagement and Communications
NATA
M: +61 411 103 575