Action required

All affected customers will be assessed against IAF MD 1:2023, Issue 3, IAF MD 25:2023 Criteria for Evaluation of Conformity Assessment Schemes (PDF) is a new mandatory document issued by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) for all accreditation bodies (ABs) that are a signatory to the IAF. New procedures by an AB may impact PAC's customers and other stakeholders as outlined below. First issued in January 2022, the application of this new mandatory document (MD) begins January 7, 2024.

Affected customers
This mandatory document only applies to the following accreditation programs that PAC currently operates:
- Certification of Management Systems Accreditation Program (MSAP)
- Certification of Product, Process and Services Accreditation Program (CBAP)
- Certification of Persons Accreditation Program (CPAP)
- Validation and Verification Body Accreditation Program (VVBAP)
Within these accreditation programs, the IAF MD applies to both accredited and applicant organizations, as well as current and future conformity assessment schemes (CASs) and scheme owners (SOs).
Additionally, there are schemes that do not apply:
- schemes included or invoked by legislation/regulation
- schemes that are developed by national, regional or international standardization bodies
- schemes within IAF (MLA) or ILAC (MRA) sub-scopes whereby the scheme owner is a signatory of a MOU. (Note: Criteria for the inclusion of a CAS into the IAF MLA can be found in IAF PL3).

Background
An as international signatory under the IAF MRA, PAC is required to meet all requirements and/or international obligations prescribed by IAF. Mandatory documents are issued by IAF to ensure that ABs operate their accreditation programs in a consistent and equivalent manner. IAF MD 25 is such a document, and it contains the minimum requirements for conformity assessment schemes to be applied by IAF member accreditation bodies, including PAC, when evaluating national, regional or international conformity assessment schemes to ensure they meet the requirements specified in ISO/IEC 17011, clause 4.6.3:"the AB shall have a policy and documented procedures to determine the suitability of the conformity assessment schemes and standards for accreditation purposes."
- In compliance with requirements in IAF MD 25, PAC has examined the schemes it is operating within its accreditation programs to determine which ones are applicable and is establishing a new process of evaluation.

New requirements
Relevant conformity assessment scheme owners that are impacted by this IAF MD 25 will be contacted by PAC to conduct an evaluation.

Deadline
PAC's implementation timeline:
January to March 2024
PAC will contact scheme owners whose conformity assessment schemes(s) will need to be evaluated by PAC. Scheme owners will need to submit the required documentation to be assessed by PAC.
April to June 2024
PAC will conduct the evaluation of applicable conformity assessment schemes.
July to September 2024
PAC will inform scheme owners of the results from the evaluation of applicable conformity assessment schemes.
September 2024 onward
PAC will establish a schedule for periodic evaluations of schemes.
This timeline may be modified as needed.

Questions?
Please contact FawzyMerzik Fahim, Manager Compliance and Assessment Services fawzy@pacofusa.com for more information.

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