Department of Standards Malaysia

The Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC) was initiated in 1992 as a forum for laboratory accreditation bodies in the Asia Pacific region.  Its primary aim was to establish, develop and expand a mutual recognition arrangement among accreditation bodies in the region.

Malaysia, through STANDARDS MALAYSIA has been accepted into the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation Mutual Recognition Arrangement (APLAC MRA) in the field of testing on 14 November 2002. This historic occasion took place in Vancouver, Canada. A year later, its status as signatory of the MRA has been extended to include calibration with effect from 13 November 2003.

In  2007, STANDARDS MALAYSIA has extend recognition in the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation Mutual Recognition Arrangement (APLAC MRA) for its Medical Testing field on April 18, 2007.

The International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) - is an international cooperation of laboratory and inspection accreditation bodies formed more than 30 years ago to help remove technical barriers to trade.

 The ultimate aim of the ILAC Arrangement is the increased use and acceptance by industry as well as regulators of the results from accredited laboratories and inspection bodies, including results from laboratories in other countries. In this way, the free-trade goal of  'product tested once and accepted everywhere' can be realised.

Malaysia has been accepted into the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation Mutual Recognition Arrangement (ILAC MRA) in field of testing on 16 January 2003. Meanwhile for the field of calibration Malaysia has been accepted into ILAC MRA on 19 November 2003. 

Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC)

The Pacific Accreditation Cooperation is an association of accreditation bodies and other interested parties to facilitate trade and commerce among economies in the Asia Pacific region. The PAC promotes the international acceptance of accreditations granted by its accreditation body members, based on the equivalence of their accreditation programmes. The PAC operates within the framework of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and in cooperation with other regional groups of accreditation bodies around the world.

Malaysia through STANDARDS MALAYSIA has gained international recognition through the acceptance into the Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC) Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) for three programmes as described below :

Quality Management Systems (QMS)

The PAC MLA for QMS programme was signed in Australia on 5 November 1998, by the STANDARDS MALAYSIA’s then Director of Accreditation, Mr. Chin Miew Lim.

Environmental Management Systems (EMS)

The PAC MLA for EMS programme was signed on 31 December 2005 by the former Director General of STANDARDS MALAYSIA, Dato’ Mariani Mohammad.

Product Certification (PC)

STANDARDS MALAYSIA has been accepted as a signatory to the PAC MLA for Product Certification programme on 16 June 2009.

International Accreditation Forum (IAF)

The International Accreditation Forum, Inc. (IAF) is the world association of Conformity Assessment Accreditation Bodies and other bodies interested in conformity assessment in the fields of management systems, products, services, personnel and other similar programmes of conformity assessment. Its primary function is to develop a single worldwide program of conformity assessment, which reduces risk for business and its customers by assuring them that accredited certificates may be relied upon.

Malaysia through STANDARDS MALAYSIA has been accepted into the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) for three programmes as below:

Quality Management Systems (QMS)

The IAF MLA for QMS programme was signed on 29 September 1999, at the Vienna International Centre, Austria by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Malaysia, H.E. Miss Melanie Leong Sook Lei.

Environmental Management Systems (EMS)

The IAF MLA for EMS programme was signed on 9 February 2006, by the former Director General of STANDARDS MALAYSIA, Dato’ Mariani Mohammad.

Product Certification (PC)

STANDARDS MALAYSIA has been accepted as a signatory to the IAF MLA for Product Certification programme on 9 July 2009.

ACCREDITATION OF CERTIFICATION BODIES