In general, the conformity and competence of the accreditation program operated by an accreditation body to international standards and guides is recognized and assured by being a signatory to mutual recognition arrangements (MRA). To be a signatory is subject to a thorough peer evaluation by an international team which consist of members from accreditation bodies other MRA signatories. Even after being a signatory, the accreditation body must be re-evaluated periodically in order to confirm its conformity and competence continuously. MRA signatories are obliged to recognize the equivalence of managment system, competence, and the results of conformity assessment by the other MRA signatories as those of their own and to promote the use of the test results of the other signatories to users or regulatory sectors within the economy.

IAJapan is a signatory to MRA of Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC) as well as International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). Among the accreditation programs operated by IAJapan, MRA recognition status covers Japan Calibration Service System (JCSS), Japan National Laboratory Accreditation System (JNLA), and Accreditation System of National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (ASNITE) (at present, excluding RMPs and PCBs). Therefore, certificates/reports with respective accreditation symbols of JCSS, JNLA (with contracts of surveillance and other services), and ASNITE are more often accepted as competent to relevant users or regulators in overseas.

Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC)

When accreditation bodies become signatories to MRA recognizing the equivalence among signatories countries/economies, the test results of accredited laboratories become more reliable and appealing. This does not lead directly to remove TBT (technical barriers to trade) but it would be significant and helpful information for importers to evaluate whether the test result of exporters' countries/economies is acceptable.

APLAC is a cooperative organization among laboratory accreditation bodies in Asia Pacific Region.

APLAC operates an MRA among membership of accreditation bodies, so that the test results and calibration certificates by accredited laboratories of a MRA signatory are recognised as equivalent among economies of MRA singatories. As of May2010, 32 members are signatories to MRA for APLAC.

APLAC/MRA signatories (32 organizations from 21 economies as of May, 2010)

International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC)

ILAC is a global cooperative organization amongst laboratory accreditation bodies recognized in their nations and Regions.
It started its MRA operation in November 2000.

ILAC/MRA signatories (64 organizations from 52 economies as of April, 2010)