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World Accreditation Day 2023

Jun 07, 2023

Positively influencing the future of global trade with the help of accreditation

This year's World Accreditation Day (WAD) focuses on the future of global trade, highlighting the importance of accreditation and conformity assessment, particularly in light of technological advances, changing consumer behavior and regulatory developments. It invites participants to exchange ideas on topics such as remote technologies and AI, as well as to discuss new approaches to solutions.

Accreditation as support for future global trade
Having a significant impact on global trade, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and U.S. Department of Commerce estimate accreditation and conformity assessments influence as much as 80% of worldwide commerce. The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) estimates that compliance increases UK exports by £6.1 billion annually, while an independent study from the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research found that accreditation boosts exports by NZD 4.5 billion.
Based on these trends, this year's WAD will take place under the "Accreditation: Supporting the Future of Global Trade" motto. The aim is to draw attention to the adaptation and further development of accreditations and conformity assessments. The need for change is increasingly growing due primarily to technological progress and shifts in consumer behavior as well as new control mechanisms with regard to legal frameworks and evolving business models.
Factors currently influencing global trade
Although product integrity is under greater scrutiny than ever before, the risk to companies is increasing for several reasons:
Meeting ever-increasing demands
The theme of this year's WAD is to show how accreditation can be used to respond to risk-related developments.
For example, standards and accreditations can provide common reference points and thus serve as independent proof of trust when dealing with complex and fragmented supply chains. Creating common standards can also reduce transaction costs to facilitate trade between different countries.
In addition, accreditations can be used to support consumers' growing awareness of sustainability, for example, by enabling standards to promote environmentally friendly practices. Accredited conformity assessments provide assurance that requirements, such as in pollution monitoring and the application of ISO 14001 environmental management systems, are being met.
Standards and accreditations must be continuously developed to meet the changing needs of industry and support the trade systems necessary to positively influence and facilitate worldwide commerce in the future. This in turn plays a key role in supporting the trade-related SDG targets:
  • SDG 1: No poverty
  • SDG 2: Zero hunger
  • SDG 3: Good health and well-being
  • SDG 5: Gender equality
  • SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth
  • SDG 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
  • SDG 10: Reduced inequality
  • SDG 14: Life below water
  • SDG 17: Partnerships to achieve the goal
More about World Accreditation Day 2023
WAD 2023 is an opportunity for the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and their members to demonstrate how accreditation supports the future of global trade. In doing so, both IAF and ILAC will provide a wide range of information explaining the role of accreditation, including further examples of its application.
Your trusted partner
As an independent service provider, we support companies in testing and certifying their products, processes and services for compliance with regulations and standards. Particularly important at a time when both supply chains and the associated regulatory requirements are becoming increasingly complex, we help companies meet compliance requirements and maintain competitiveness.
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  • the global experience of an accredited body in the areas of supply chain, information security management and sustainability,
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