Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated Launches, Unifying International Accreditation Organisations

1 January 2026 marked the official launch of Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated (GAC Incorporated), a new single international organisation created to bring together the work previously carried out by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). According to IAF, the new organisation is intended to strengthen worldwide trust in accredited conformity assessment and provide a more unified international framework. (IAF)

The launch of GAC Incorporated also introduced its own Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MRA). This new arrangement brings together the scopes that were previously covered under the IAF MLA and ILAC MRA, helping maintain international recognition across accreditation activities under a single global structure. (IAF)

IAF states that this transition is designed to improve alignment, reduce duplication, and make the international accreditation system easier to understand for regulators, businesses, and other stakeholders. At the same time, the organisation emphasised continuity: the trusted relationships and recognitions already established under the previous framework are being carried forward into the new structure. (IAF)

The transition does not mean an immediate break with the former system. Existing recognitions, peer evaluation processes, and the use of current IAF and ILAC documents will continue during the transition period until equivalent GAC Incorporated documents are fully adopted. (IAF)

IAF also notes that, as of 1 January 2026, it has ceased operations and its website is now maintained as a legacy archive for reference purposes. Current information is being directed to the new Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated framework. (IAF)

For accreditation bodies, conformity assessment bodies, regulators, and market participants, this development represents a major structural change in the global accreditation system. In practical terms, it is a consolidation of the former IAF and ILAC architecture into one organisation, while preserving international confidence in accredited certificates, test results, inspections, and other conformity assessment outcomes. This last sentence is an inference based on IAF’s description of the merger and continuity arrangements. (IAF)

Sources: IAF news announcement on the launch of Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated and related IAF transition notices. (IAF)