1 This Arrangement is based on the results of evaluations carri-
ed out in accordance with the relevant rules and procedures of
the Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC).
2 The parties to this Arrangement are the accreditation bodies
on whose behalf the Arrangement has been signed (the "partici-
pating bodies", collectively the "MLA Group").
3 Each participating body shall agree to abide by the terms and
conditions of the MLA.
Each participating body shall:
(i) maintain conformance with ISO/IEC Guide 61, and related P-
AC guidance documents;
(ii) ensure that all accredited Quality System Assessment and
Certification / Registration bodies comply with ISO/IEC
Guide 62 and related PAC guidance documents.
4 Each participating body shall:
(i) recognize the operation of the other systems - within the
programs as defined in this Arrangement - as equivalent to
its own;
(ii) recommend and promote the acceptance of the certificates
of conformity within the recognized scopes from the bodi-
es accredited by the participating bodies as being on an
equal basis with those of its own accredited bodies.
5 Each participating body shall:
(i) investigate all complaints initiated by a participating b-
ody resulting from certificates of conformity issued by t-
he bodies it has accredited within its accreditation prog-
ram;
(ii) notify all other participating bodies as soon as possible
of any significant changes that have occurred or will oc-
cur in its status, in the operational practices of its s-
ystem or in its accreditation programs;
(iii) contribute as appropriate to the work of the MLA Group;
Pacific Accreditation Cooperation 1998 Approved 5 Novem-
ber, 1998 Printed 22 March, 2001 PAC_MLA.doc PAC-DOC-002
PAC Multilateral Recognition Arrangement Issue 2 Page 2
of 3
(iv) participate as appropriate in the meetings of the Techni-
cal Committee and of the MLA Group;
(v) provide auditors/assessors for the evaluation, re-evaluat-
ion and surveillance to the accreditation programs of the
MLA Group members and applicants;
(vi) co-operate with other accreditation bodies so that the M-
LA may be extended;
(vii) use all information in a confidential and professional
manner.
6 If, in accordance with the relevant rules and procedures, it
is agreed that an additional accreditation body that operates
a system may participate in the Arrangement, an MLA Signature
Sheet (Annex B of this Arrangement) shall be signed by the new
accreditation body and duly authorized by the PAC Chair.
The new signatory shall be added to the list of signatories (
Annex A of this Arrangement). The same procedure shall be fol-
lowed if it is agreed that a participant to the Arrangement m-
ay extend its accreditation programs.
7 If a participating body wishes to withdraw from this Arrangem-
ent for any reason whatsoever, that body shall notify the oth-
er participating bodies to this Arrangement in writing through
the MLA Management Committee not later than three months in a-
dvance of withdrawing. Upon withdrawal of a body or changing
the extent of its accreditation programs, that body MLA Signa-
ture Sheet shall be withdrawn, a new MLA Signature Sheet shall
be signed (if appropriate) and the list of signatories (Annex
A) shall be revised accordingly. After each change in the list
of signatories (Annex A) the revised list shall be counter-si-
gned by the Chairman of PAC.
8 Any amendment of the text of this Multilateral Recognition Ar-
rangement shall be approved by the PAC Plenary.
9 This Arrangement consists of ten (10) Clauses plus an Annex (
Annex A) listing each participating body, along with the exte-
nt of its accreditation programs, and one signature sheet for
each participating body (Annex B).
10 This Arrangement came into force on: 24 January 1998.
Pacific Accreditation Cooperation 1997 Printed 22 March, 2001
Approved 5 November, 1998 .

Annex A to Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA)
PACIFIC ACCREDITATION COOPERATION
MULTILATERAL RECOGNITION ARRANGEMENT (MLA)
This Arrangement covers the accreditation activity of quality m
anagement systems
┌──────────┬───────────────────┐
│Date │Signatory Body │
├──────────┼───────────────────┤
│24 January 1988 │JAS-ANZ (Australia and New Zealand) │
├──────────┼───────────────────┤
│24 January 1988 │SCC (Canada) │
├──────────┼───────────────────┤
│24 January 1988 │CNACR (China) │
├──────────┼───────────────────┤
│24 January 1988 │JAB (Japan) │
├──────────┼───────────────────┤
│5 November 1988 │CNAB (China) │
├──────────┼───────────────────┤
│5 November 1988 │DSM (Malaysia) │
├──────────┼───────────────────┤
│5 November 1988 │SAC (Singapore) │
├──────────┼───────────────────┤
│29 July 1999 │KAB (Korea) │
├──────────┼───────────────────┤
│24 August 2000 │ONAC (Thailand) │
├──────────┼───────────────────┤
│24 August 2000 │KAN (Indonesia) │
├──────────┼───────────────────┤
│6 September, 2001 │EMA (Mexico) │
├──────────┼───────────────────┤
│7 August, 2002 │BAS (Philippines) │
├──────────┼───────────────────┤
│7 August, 2002 │CNAB (Chinese Taipei) │
├──────────┼───────────────────┤
│7 August, 2002 │NABCB (lndia) │
└──────────┴───────────────────┘
┌──────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│PAC MULTILATERAL RECOGNITION AGREEMENT │
│ANNEX B │
│ │
│ │
│Signatories: │
│Signed on behalf of the following Full Member: │
│ │
│ │
│Signed: │
│ │
│Name: Mr Neng-Jong Lin │
│Position: Deputy chairperson │
│Organisation CNAB Chinese Taipei │
│Economy: Chinese Taipei │
│Date: 7 August, 2002 │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│Signed: │
│ │
│Name: Xia Jianhua │
│Position: Chair, Pacific Accreditation Co-operation │
│Date: 7 August, 2002 │
└──────────────────────────────┘