Is an accredited asbestos analysis report from an overseas laboratory valid in my country? How does the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation – Mutual Recognition Arrangement (ILAC-MRA) work?
⬇ 3 levels to consider regarding the ILAC-MRA ⬇
1️⃣ The accreditation,
2️⃣ The method that is accredited,
3️⃣ The regulation in place.
Let’s try to demystify this!
👇 CASE STUDY (images): ASBESTOS AIR 👇
🔍 Case A:
1️⃣
✅ COFRAC is member of ILAC-MRA,
✅ NVLAP is member of ILAC-MRA,
✅–> ILAC-MRA allows NVLAP accreditation to be considered equivalent to COFRAC accreditation (and vice versa).
2️⃣
✅ As both COFRAC and NVLAP are ILAC-MRA members, an accredited method issued by any member will be mutually recognised between all members as if they had accredited it themselves.
3️⃣
❌Even though the accredited method from NVLAP will be recognised by COFRAC thanks to the ILAC-MRA, it does not correspond to the method required by the French regulation, so it will NOT be accepted by local regulators.
🔍 Case B:
1️⃣
❌ XXX is NOT member of ILAC-MRA,
✅ NATA is member of ILAC-MRA,
❌–> The accreditation from XXX will NOT be considered equivalent to NATA accreditation (and vice versa).
2️⃣
❌ As XXX is NOT an ILAC-MRA member, an accredited method issued by both bodies will NOT be mutually recognised.
3️⃣
❌ Even though the method accredited by XXX corresponds to the one required by the Australian regulation, as XXX is not a member of the ILAC-MRA, it will NOT be recognised by NATA and it will NOT be accepted by the local regulators.
🔍 Case C:
1️⃣
✅ NATA is member of ILAC-MRA
✅ NVLAP is member of ILAC-MRA
✅–> ILAC-MRA allows NATA accreditation to be considered equivalent to NVLAP accreditation (and vice versa).
2️⃣
✅ As both NATA and NVLAP are ILAC-MRA members, an accredited method issued by any member will be mutually recognised between all members as if they had accredited it themselves.
3️⃣
✅ As the method accredited by NATA corresponds to the one required by the US regulation and as it is recognised by NVLAP thanks to the ILAC-MRA, it will be accepted by local regulators.
–> Advantage in terms of time, freight charges, logistic, etc. as no need to send samples to a laboratory in the targeted country if another laboratory is closer.
In conclusion, if:
- both accreditation bodies are ILAC-MRA members, AND,
- both accredited methods are similar, AND,
- the method is the one required by the targeted regulation,
–> it will be accepted by local regulators.
