Internationally, A2LA continues to participate in the activities of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and associated regional bodies.

In 2000, A2LA signed the International Laboratory Cooperation (ILAC) Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) between 36 accreditation bodies from 28 economies worldwide. During 2003, several additional accreditation bodies from other economies joined the MRA. Established in 1977, ILAC is the premier international forum for the harmonization of laboratory accreditation procedures and policies as a means of reducing technical barriers to trade and the promotion of laboratory accreditation as a mechanism to enhance confidence in testing and calibration facilities, both domestically and internationally.

Other international cooperation arrangements in effect during 2003 included the MRA with the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC), the bilateral agreement with the European Cooperation for Laboratory Accreditation (EA) MRA members and the multi-lateral agreement with the Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC). Information about the international accreditation systems with whom A2LA has a valid agreement as of May 31, 2004 is presented in Appendix A of this Annual Report. Copies of the MRAs are available upon request. A2LA will testify to the competence of each accreditation system with whom it has an MRA and attest to the fact that they follow the recognized norm for operating such systems, ISO Guide 58, and use ISO/IEC 17025 as the basis for the accreditation of laboratories. Up-to-date information on cooperating laboratory accreditation systems can be obtained by visiting our website or contacting A2LA Headquarters.

Staff members from A2LA continue to hold key leadership positions in ILAC and APLAC. Peter Unger, A2LA President, chairs both the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) Arrangement Management Committee (AMC) and the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC) and is the convenor of the working group on ILAC Arrangement documentation. Mr. Unger also represents the United States on the ISO/CASCO Working Groups (WG) for ISO/IEC 17011 (replacing ISO/IEC Guide 58) and amendments to ISO/IEC 17025. Roxanne Robinson, A2LA Vice President, has been appointed one of the Evaluation Managers for the ILAC Arrangement and a convenor of the ILAC WG on assessor qualifications and competence and is recognized as a lead evaluator for APLAC.