Metrology and accreditation: The ILAC and its programme

The International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) is the international forum for organisations interested in the practice of laboratory and inspection body accreditation. This includes its utilisation in trade, commerce and generation of reliable test and measurement data for national and international purposes. The paper outlines the work of ILAC in these areas and its particular role in. providing national calibration, testing and inspection infrastructures. It also notes the importance of the relationship between accreditation bodies and national measurement institutes in the provision of coherent national systems. Comment is also made on the current difficulties in the international acceptance of test results using the mutual recognition process resulting from lack of formal understandings between the national measurement institutes.