ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement in relation to laboratories: the accreditation bodies that are signatories to the ILAC MRA have been peer evaluated in accordance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17011 to demonstrate their competence. The ILAC MRA Signatory Search provides a current list of all accreditation bodies that are signatories to the ILAC MRA, including their contact details, the scope of their recognition and the initial date of signing the ILAC MRA. The ILAC MRA signatories then assess and accredit conformity assessment bodies according to the relevant international standards including calibration laboratories (using ISO/IEC 17025), testing laboratories (using ISO/IEC 17025), medical testing laboratories (using ISO 15189), inspection bodies (using ISO/IEC 17020), proficiency testing providers (using ISO/IEC 17043) and reference material producers (using ISO 17034). The ILAC MRA signatories agree to accept the results of each other’s accredited conformity assessment bodies under the ILAC MRA.
BIPM mutual recognition arrangement for metrology measurement: this MRA provides the framework through which national metrology institutions demonstrate the international equivalence of their measurement standards; and accept the calibration and measurement certificates they issue. The outcomes are recognised degrees of equivalence between national standards; and peer-reviewed, approved and therefore internationally recognised calibration and measurement capabilities of the participating institutes. The outcomes are publicly available from the CIPM MRA database maintained by the BIPM (OECD/BIPM, 2020[1]).
APEC MLA for conformity assessment of telecommunications equipment is a government-to-government arrangement that comes into effect when two or more economies agree to implement it. It provides for the mutual recognition of results of testing and equipment certification procedures undertaken by CABs located in the exporting country in assessing conformity of equipment to technical regulations of the importing countries.1
The Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S) is a transgovernmental network of regulators: Its early activity initiated through a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) between contracting States on inspection certificates, called the Pharmaceutical Inspection Convention. In the early 1990s, an informal agreement between regulatory authorities was launched, replacing the initial MRA by a voluntary sharing of inspection reports (OECD, 2016[2]). Today, PIC/S facilitates information sharing and co-operation, including voluntary sharing of GMP inspection reports (to reduce duplicative inspections) and negotiation of mutual recognition agreements (Correia de Brito, Kauffmann and Pelkmans, 2016[3]).
Mutual recognition of medication facilitated by WHO and European Medicines Agency: Mutual recognition agreements concluded by European Medicines Agency with third-country authorities (Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, and United States). The WHO also have a Model international certificate of vaccination (Annex to International Health Regulations, see p. 53) and specific vaccination requirements for yellow fever, WHO Vaccine Booklet.
The CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA): A specific MRA also exists in the area of metrology, setting the baseline for a common reference system of measurement. For measurement results to be universally accepted, there must be comparability across all aspects of the international system. “Metrological traceability”2 is one of the elements that establishes international confidence in the worldwide equivalence of measurements. Measurements made in the context of the CIPM MRA are part of the broader international standards and quality assurance services, or quality infrastructure, which also includes accreditation (ILAC), legal metrology (OIML), and standardization (ISO). The bodies involved in defining the measurement traceability have agreed on a common declaration to underpin a worldwide measurement system, encouraging legislators and regulators to refer to the international set of mutually supportive systems – CIPM MRA, ILAC MRA and OIML Certification System and to accept measurement results made within them, thereby helping avoid and reduce technical barriers to trade.
Reinforcing Regulatory Frameworks through Standards, Measurements and Assurance
Making Better Use of Quality Infrastructure in Policymaking
