Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC)

writer:China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment time:2020-08-06

  The Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC)was established on 1 January 2019 by the amalgamation of two former regional accreditation cooperations – the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC) and the Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC).

  APAC ‘s primary role is to manage and expand a mutual recognition arrangement (MRA) among accreditation bodies in the Asia Pacific region. The MRA facilitates the acceptance of conformity assessment results (e.g. test reports, test certificates, inspection reports, and certification) across the region and with other regions around the world. Conformity assessment results that are produced by conformity assessment bodies (CABs) that have been accredited by one APAC MRA signatory are accepted by all the other APAC MRA signatories. This mutual recognition and acceptance of conformity assessment results reduces the need to undertake duplicate testing, inspection or certification, thus saving time and money, increasing economic efficiency and facilitating international trade.

  APAC’smembersinclude accreditation bodies, accreditation focal points and other organisations that have an interest in accredited conformity assessment results.

  APAC is recognized by the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) as one of fourAPEC Specialist Regional Bodies(SRBs) that support the work of the APEC Sub-Committee on Standards and Conformance.

  APAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA)

  The APAC MRA is the combination of the previous APLAC MRA that was originally signed in 1997 and the PAC Multilateral Recognition Arrangement signed in 1998.

   47 out of 64 members of APAC are MRA signatories and are APAC Full Members.As of September 2019,Full Members have accredited54,875laboratories, inspection bodies, reference material producers and proficiency testing providers, and4,361 certification bodies and greenhouse gas (GHG) validation and verification bodies.

  Participation of China in APAC Activities

  June 15th-22nd, 2019CNAS delegation attends the first annual meeting of APAC after its establishment.

  June 30th– July 5th, 2019CNAS undergoes peer evaluation organized by APAC.

  For more information about APAC, please visit APAC website: //www.apac-accreditation.org/ or contact APAC Secretariat:

  Address: PO Box 5154South TurramurraNSW 2074Australia

  TEL:+61 466 262 372

  E-mail: secretariat@apac-accreditation.org