Accreditation mark

A passport to the markets

The Accredia mark represents a certificate of competence and impartiality, issued by the National Accreditation Body, accepted on international markets.

The Accredia logo, recognizable on certificates issued by Accredia to accredited bodies and laboratories, represents the accreditation mark, the validity of which is recognized globally.

Accredited bodies and laboratories may apply the Accredia mark, in the version provided for the specific activity performed under accreditation, on conformity and calibration certificates, verification statements and test and inspection reports.

Public and private organizations and professionals using conformity assessment services performed by accredited bodies can also display the accreditation mark dedicated to them.

The mark confers reliability and facilitates the free movement of products and services on the global market, often reducing the need for additional testing or verification in other countries. It therefore represents a “passport” testifying to compliance with international standards.

Accredia’s accreditation mark is a strategic tool for accredited subject and organizations for:

• Present themselves as credible suppliers to the PA, by virtue of an independent third party’s attestation of their competence and impartiality.
• Ensure compliance with quality and safety regulations in business-to-business relations, both national and international.
• Reduce border controls, saving time and costs, in favour of the free movement of goods and services on global markets.
• Strengthening the confidence of consumers, institutions and business partners in goods and services placed on the market.

Value of the mark

The dissemination of the Accredia mark promotes the activities of accredited bodies and laboratories, and increases the credibility of conformity assessment activities carried out under accreditation.

The proper dissemination of the accreditation mark is essential to enhance the conformity assessment activities carried out by accredited bodies and laboratories and to strengthen confidence in certification, inspection, verification, testing and calibration.

Certification, inspection and verification bodies are invited to promote the use of the mark of Accredia in combination with their logo, in particular to clients with high visibility and social relevance.

The aim is to raise and spread awareness of the value of accreditation and to support Accredia in communicating its role as guarantor of the competence of bodies and laboratories.

Mark for accredited subjects

The mark for use by accredited bodies and laboratories serves to identify conformity and calibration certificates, verification statements, test, analysis and inspection reports, and other identification documents issued on the market. The accreditation mark consists of two concentric circles, containing the original pictogram and the Accredia name, as well as the indication of the accreditation scheme and the identification number assigned by Accredia.

“Multi activities” mark for accredited subjects

Bodies and laboratories that hold multiple accreditations may use the collective “Multi Activities” mark on documents of various kinds (commercial, promotional, etc.) but not on certificates of conformity (certificates of conformity and calibration, verification statements, test, analysis and inspection reports). The “Multi Activities” mark consists of two concentric circles, containing the original pictogram and the Accredia name, as well as the list of all accreditation schemes held and the identification number assigned by Accredia.

Combined mark for accredited subjects

Bodies and laboratories accredited in the schemes covered by the IAF MLA and ILAC MRA Mutual Recognition Arrangements may use a special version of the accreditation mark. The combined mark is granted subject to the signing of a specific sub-licence agreement for the use of the “Multilateral Recognition Arrangement” mark and must be used in specific circumstances defined by the IAF and ILAC international documents.

Mark for clients of accredited bodies

In specific circumstances, organizations using accredited certification, inspection and verification and validation services may use the accreditation mark of the responsible accredited body. The client mark consists of the commercial mark and the accreditation mark of the accredited body that issued the service.