Merger of APLAC and PAC into APAC
Action required
No action is required at his time, other than to take note of the merger.
Affected customers
All customers.
Background
In June 2018, the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC) and the Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC) agreed to amalgamate into one regional accreditation body cooperation called the Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC). APAC formally became operational on 1 January 2019.
By virtue of this merger, APLAC and PAC members are automatically transferred to the relevant membership category of the new APAC along with the any existing mutual recognition status within APLAC and PAC.
The new APAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (APAC MRA) has been recognised by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). This means conformity assessment bodies (for example certification bodies, inspection bodies, and laboratories) currently accredited by accreditation bodies who are signatories to the APLAC MRA or PAC MLA will retain their international recognition through the APAC MRA here onwards without interruption and change.
Further information on the merger and the new APAC is available on the website: www.apac-accreditation.org.
The details with regard to the use of the APAC Logo and Representation of APAC could be found at: https://www.apac-accreditation.org/publications/com-series/
Please note that SCC continues its membership in APAC, and its APAC MRA signatory status for calibration and testing laboratories and medical laboratories.
New requirements
N/A
Deadline
The creation of APAC came into effect on January 1st, 2019.
Questions?
Please contact Elias Rafoul, Vice President, Accreditation Services, at elias.rafoul@scc.ca or +1 613 238 3222 for more information.