If you’ve recently heard that the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) have merged, you may be wondering whether your ISO certificate is still valid or whether you need to do anything.
The good news is simple.
For organisations certified to standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001, ISO 45001, ISO 22301, ISO 42001 or other accredited management system standards, there is nothing you need to do. Your certificate remains valid, internationally recognised and fully accepted.
What Has Changed?
On 1 January 2026, the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) officially merged to form the Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated (Global ACI).
Previously, IAF was responsible for the international recognition of accredited certification bodies issuing management system certificates, while ILAC focused on laboratories, inspection bodies and testing organisations.
The new organisation brings these activities together under a single international governance structure with one global Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA). The objective is to simplify international accreditation, reduce duplication and strengthen confidence in accredited conformity assessment across the world.
Does This Affect My ISO Certificate?
No. Whether you are certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001, ISO 45001, ISO 50001, ISO 22000, ISO 22301 or another accredited ISO standard, your certificate remains valid.
There is:
- no requirement for an additional audit
- no need to change certification body
- no interruption to international recognition
- no action required from certified organisations.
The international system that recognises accredited certificates continues under Global ACI, ensuring that certificates issued by accredited certification bodies continue to be accepted around the world.
Will My Certificate Change?
Possibly, but not immediately.
Over the coming months and years, certification bodies and accreditation bodies are expected to update references to IAF and ILAC as they adopt the new Global ACI branding.
You may eventually notice:
- updated accreditation wording
- revised logos or marks
- references to Global ACI rather than IAF or ILAC
- updated documentation and websites.
These are administrative changes and do not affect the validity of your certification.
What About UKAS Accredited Certification?
If your certification body is accredited by UKAS, nothing changes regarding your accreditation.
UKAS remains the UK’s National Accreditation Body and continues to assess certification bodies against ISO/IEC 17011. The only difference is that UKAS now participates within the new Global ACI international framework rather than the previous IAF and ILAC arrangements.
I’m Thinking About Transferring Certification Bodies. Should I Wait?
No.
The merger has no impact on transferring your certification to another accredited certification body.
If you’re considering moving because of service, cost, audit availability, industry expertise or customer support, the transfer process continues exactly as before.
When choosing a certification body, you should continue to consider:
- UKAS (or equivalent national) accreditation
- experience within your industry
- auditor competence
- responsiveness and customer service
- audit flexibility
- transparent pricing.
The international changes should not influence your decision.
Summary
The merger of IAF and ILAC represents one of the biggest organisational changes in the accreditation sector for many years, but for certified organisations it is largely invisible.
The standards haven’t changed. The audit process hasn’t changed. Your certificate hasn’t changed.
What has changed is the international governance behind accreditation. By bringing accreditation under one global organisation, the aim is to simplify international recognition while maintaining the trust that accredited certification has provided for decades.
If you’re seeking ISO certification for the first time, or you’re considering transferring to a new certification body, you can continue to choose an accredited provider with confidence, knowing that your certification will remain recognised internationally.
Looking for a New Certification Body?
At CertBodies.co.uk we help organisations compare accredited certification bodies across the UK. Whether you’re seeking your first ISO certification or transferring from your current provider, our independent comparison service helps you find a certification body that matches your requirements, sector and budget.
Browse certification bodies today or request quotations from multiple providers through CertBodies.co.uk.