Utilisation of accredited services in different countries

Accreditation is a global system based on international standards. The system is intended to be a global way to demonstrate competency. According to MLA and MRA agreement between accreditation bodies, all the accreditations under the agreement made in those bodies can be approved in other countries regardless of the country in which the accreditation is obtained.

Recognition of results

Organizations accredited by FINAS can take advantage of the acceptability of the results in other countries in the accreditation areas under the MLA and MRA. Signatory countries have agreed that accredited results obtained in other countries will be accepted equally. At the moment FINAS in signatory in all agreements (except biobanking) for all its activity. Biobanking is not yet covered in the agreements. By referring to FINAS accreditation, the organization indicates that the results have been accredited. The reference also includes information on the international acceptability of the results, even if the reference is not mentioned. At the same time, FINAS being part of the agreements also ensures that the organization's results are internationally accepted. Valid international agreements can be checked from FINAS. Information is also available on the websites of the international accreditation organizations (EA, ILAC, IAF), where the signatories of the international MLA/MRA agreements have been published. The cooperation is constantly developing, and more and more countries are becoming party to the agreements.

International accreditation symbols

In addition to the FINAS accreditation symbol, the accredited organization may also refer to international agreements in connection with the results and in this way also separately demonstrate the acceptability of the results in accordance with international agreements.

An accredited testing and calibration laboratory, inspection body, proficiency testing provider, certification body or verifier organisation may refer to the EA MLA in writing. The body must agree on the use of the EA MLA reference with FINAS so as to ensure that the body’s accredited activities are included in the MLA. Referring is governed by the same rules as references to accreditation by FINAS. However, clients of accredited bodies cannot refer to the EA MLA.

At the moment organizations may refer to the European co-operation for Accreditation (EA) multilateral agreement (EA MLA) in writing: “FINAS is a signatory of the European co-operation for Accreditation (EA) Multilateral Agreement for accreditation.". Same text is also added to the scope of accreditation.

An accredited laboratory, inspection body or proficiency testing provider that has obtained from FINAS the necessary right of use agreement may use the ILAC MRA Mark. The mark is used together with the FINAS accreditation symbol of the laboratory, inspection body or proficiency testing provider; when these two elements are combined, they form the ILAC MRA Mark of the laboratory, inspection body or proficiency testing provider.

IAF MLA Mark can be use when accredited certification body has made agreement with FINAS about use of IAF MLA Mark. IAF MLA Mark can be use in connection with certifications when the scope in certificate is part of IAF MLA scope of FINAS, like ISO /TS 22003-1.

International symbol is always used together with the organizations own accreditation symbol. Implementation of the symbols is described in document V1 (pdf) and further information is available from FINAS.