Detailed information about the organizations that signed the ECA MLA agreement is available on the international portal: https://i-a-r.com
Mutual
recognition
Purpose of the ECA MLA Multilateral Recognition Agreement is to ensure mutual recognition of accredited certificates between MLA signatories, and the subsequent acceptance of accredited certificates in international markets based on a single accreditation.
Once a conformity assessment body becomes a signatory to the ECA MLA, it must recognize certificates issued by conformity assessment bodies accredited by all other signatories of the ECA MLA with the appropriate scope.
Conformity
ECA signs an MLA with participants after receiving assurances that their assessment processes comply with all applicable international standards. Conformity assessment bodies are admitted to the ECA MLA only after a strict assessment of their activities by the ECA Supervisory Committee. The committee’s responsibility is to assess that the applicant is fully compliant with both the current version of ISO/IEC 17021 and other applicable international standards, including the recommendations of the IAF, IATF, FSSC, BRCGS and other schemes.
Monitoring
All conformity assessment bodies are subject to periodic monitoring and inspections, including fitness audits to assess the results of conformity assessment.
The ECA MLA Annual Report details the activities undertaken as part of the peer review process to ensure that regulators, specification developers and businesses can have confidence in the Agreement.
Obligations
Each organization that signs the ECA MLA agrees to:
- maintain compliance with the current version of ISO/IEC 17021 “Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems” and other applicable international standards;
- recognize the competence and impartiality of the results of conformity assessments carried out by all ECA participants
The ECA MLA mark can be used by organizations to demonstrate their status as an ECA MLA signatory. Certification bodies may also use the ECA MLA mark in combination with the accreditation symbol in their certificates or statements.
Organizations seeking certification will be able to see at a glance whether the certification body issuing the certificate is a signatory to the ECA MLA.
