On 1st September 2025 the European co-operation for Accreditation (EA) shall launch its Multilateral Agreement Mark (the EA MLA Mark). This has been developed 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, whilst voluntary, can be beneficial as it 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 Bulletin addresses the use of the EA MLA Mark by UKAS-accredited CABs located within the European region (i.e. in countries where the EA MLA Mark has been registered). Its purpose is to enable CABs to start preparations for its adoption and implementation, should they choose to do so. It details how the mandatory requirements within EA publication EA-3/01 S2 M (Supplement 2 to EA-3/01 – Rules on the use of EA MLA Mark in the UK) shall be met by UKAS accredited CABs. Its contents shall be transferred to a dedicated ‘Use of the EA MLA Mark’ page on the UKAS website post-launch, the same as for the ILAC MRA Mark and IAF MLA Mark.
RULES FOR THE USE OF THE EA 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 that are located in countries where the Mark is officially registered. This registration is currently confined to countries within the EA Region, defined as those whose NABs are signatories to the EA MLA. As such, UKAS-accredited CABs located outside of the EA Region shall not be permitted to use the EA MLA Mark. A list of countries where the Mark is registered, including the United Kingdom, shall be maintained by the EA Secretariat and will be available from the EA website at www.european-accreditation.org.
CABs shall be 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, or in the event that UKAS ceases to be a signatory to the EA MLA.
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 M (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).
For UKAS-accredited CABs that wish to use the EA MLA Mark following its launch, please submit your request to [email protected], stating ‘Request for EA MLA Mark’ in the header. If you have any queries, please direct these to your Assessment Manager.
Download a pdf of this Technical Bulletin here.