GCC Accreditation Center Strengthens Global Collaboration at IAF/ILAC Annual Meetings in Berlin

The GCC Accreditation Center (GAC) continues to enhance its collaboration with the global accreditation community and industry experts. This year, GAC’s delegation actively participated in the International Accreditation Forum (#IAF) and International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (#ILAC) Joint Annual Meetings, held from October 1 to 10, 2024, in Berlin, Germany. GAC representatives made significant contributions to various committees and working groups, reinforcing the center’s commitment to advancing international accreditation practices.

The GAC delegation was led by Eng. Moteb AlMezani, Director General of GAC, and included Eng. Brahim Houla, Accreditation Services Director; Mr. Atta Subhan, Manager of Accreditation, Technical & Quality; and Mr. Hamza Khan, Division Manager for Inspections & Calibrations. Their participation highlighted GAC’s proactive role in engaging with the international accreditation sector, focusing on sharing experiences, exchanging best practices, and discussing future collaboration opportunities to benefit local and regional conformity assessment bodies.

The event provided an excellent platform to reconnect with peers from the accreditation and conformity assessment sectors, with discussions focusing on how GAC’s bilateral agreements and partnerships could foster mutual recognition, enhance the credibility of accreditation processes, and contribute to global trade facilitation. The participation of GAC officials in these high-level meetings underscored the organization’s mission to support international trade and safety standards by ensuring reliable conformity assessment services.

A historic milestone was reached during the meetings on October 9, 2024, with the launch of the First General Assembly of the Global Accreditation Cooperation (#GLOBAC). GAC’s delegation, led by Eng. Moteb AlMezani, joined members of ILAC and IAF in approving the GLOBAC Constitution and General Rules, signifying the official unification of the global accreditation community. This momentous achievement marks the culmination of decades of efforts to align international accreditation organizations, setting the stage for GLOBAC to play a pivotal role in the field.

GLOBAC is set to become a leading global umbrella organization for accreditation, with the widest reach in conformity assessment. It aims to work in close collaboration with major international entities such as the United Nations (#UN), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (#UNIDO), World Health Organization (#WHO), World Trade Organization (#WTO), and standards bodies like the International Organization for Standardization (#ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (#IEC). The success of GLOBAC will also hinge on strategic partnerships with regional accreditation groups, including the ARAB Accreditation Cooperation (#ARAC) and the Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (#APAC), to foster harmonization and mutual recognition of accreditation standards.

The GCC Accreditation Center’s active involvement in these significant events demonstrates its dedication to promoting quality and reliability in conformity assessment, supporting the growth of trade, and enhancing the region’s integration into the global economy through robust accreditation frameworks.