IAS December 2021 - Newspaper - Page 13
Logos, Symbols and Marks
With so many logos, symbols and marks in the marketplace, who
knows what can be used and who can use them. Hopefully this
article with help answer these and other questions as it relates to
accreditation, IAS and accredited conformity assessment bodies
(CABs).
Let’s first look at the difference between a logo, symbol and
mark in the world of accreditation. The governing document
for accreditation is ISO/IEC 17011, Conformity Assessment Requirements for Accreditation Bodies Accrediting Conformity
Assessment Bodies. This document defines the difference between
an accreditation body logo and an accreditation symbol.
An accreditation body logo is “used by an accreditation body
to identify itself”. An accreditation symbol is “issued by an
accreditation body to be used by accredited conformity assessment
bodies to indicate they are accredited”. ISO/IEC 17011 does not
indicate what these need to look like, only that there is a difference.
In the case of the International Accreditation Service (IAS), the
difference is the text on the image. Both the IAS logo and the IAS
accreditation symbol have the “green box” with IAS inside. Below,
on the left is the IAS logo. Note the text only states “International
Accreditation Service”. The image below on the right is the
accreditation symbol for testing laboratories. The text in this image
states “ACCREDITED Testing Laboratory”. Each accreditation
program will have the name of its program either under or to the
right of the “IAS green box.”
the same design but with the letters “ILAC MRA” in the image. “MRA”
stands for “mutual recognition arrangement” and is the agreement
member ABs are signatory to. For IAF, the IAF MLA mark is
different from the IAF logo. The letters “MLA” stand for “multilateral
recognition arrangement” and is the agreement the member ABs are
signatory to. The IAF logo has the letters “IAF” in the center of the
design with the word “International Accreditation Forum” spelled out
around the edge of the design. The IAF MLA mark is the same design
but replaces the words around the edge with “Member of Multilateral
Recognition Arrangement”.
The two marks from ILAC and IAF can be used by both the ABs and
the CABs, but only after an agreement has been signed. ABs must
sign an agreement with ILAC and IAF in order to use the ILAC MRA
mark and the IAF MLA mark. In turn, accredited CABs can only use
the marks after signing an agreement with their AB. There are many
requirements to follow if an accredited CAB wants to use these
marks. First and foremost, the ILAC MRA mark and the IAF MLA
mark are to be displayed with the ABs accreditation symbol. The
marks cannot be displayed without the ABs accreditation symbol.
Click here to learn more about the combined ILAC MRA mark and the
combined IAF MLA mark. Examples of a combined marks are shown
below.
Connect with Us
ACCREDITED
Product Certication
Agency
ACCREDITED
Testing Laboratory
INTERNATIONAL
ACCREDITATION
SERVICE
As indicated above, only IAS can use the IAS logo and only IAS
accredited CABs can use the IAS Accreditation Symbol.
The use of the IAS accreditation symbol has limitations. The rules
of procedure for each accreditation program define where and when
the IAS accreditation symbol can be used. For all IAS accreditation
programs, the common rule is the accreditation symbols can only be
used on documents that pertain to the CABs’ scope of accreditation.
If the document has items outside their accreditation, there must be
a statement that indicates what in the document is covered by their
scope of accreditation.
As an IAS accredited CAB, please reference the rules of procedure
for your program(s) to find more information about where the use of
the IAS accreditation symbol can be used.
There are two other logos that are used in the field of accreditation.
These are from the two governing bodies in accreditation, the
International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and
the International Accreditation Forum (IAF). These two logos can
only be used by these two organizations and members of the two
organizations upon written approval.
ACCREDITED
Testing Laboratory
Promote your Accreditation
Let us know what you think
If you haven’t connected with IAS on social
media platforms, then you are missing
out on the latest accreditation news.
IAS provides periodic news updates and
information on dedicated pages on Twitter,
Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube. To find
us, go to any of these pages and search for
International Accreditation Service.
IAS customers can promote their
accreditations with IAS Accreditation
Program Symbols. The symbols can be
used in advertisements, websites,
brochures, exhibit booths, and other
places to promote IAS accreditation. For
accreditation symbols, send email to
requestamark@iasonline.org.
IAS strives to continually improve our
services and welcomes feedback, positive or
negative, which we will use to provide better
service to our clients and stakeholders. Visit
the Contact Us page of the IAS website to
share your comments.
There are other logos are often misused in relationship with
accredited CABs. The first one is the International Standards
Organization (ISO) logo. According to the ISO website, only ISO,
ISO members (which has nothing to do with IAS accredited CABs),
and ISO technical committees are allowed to use the ISO logo. If a
laboratory is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025, they do not automatically
have the right to use the ISO logo.
To use the International Code Council’s (ICC) logo, please refer to
the ICC Logo License for more information. According to this license
agreement, accredited CABs are not allowed to use the ICC logo. If
an accredited CAB is an ICC Member, which has nothing to do with
their IAS accreditation, they can use the ICC Member logo only if
they have an agreement with ICC to use the ICC Member logo.
Our Newsletter Team
Laura Uraine, Customer Success Specialist – IAS – writer/editor
Greg West – Director, Customer Success Group – IAS – writer/editor
Tania Blancas provided graphic and layout support
Trust, Competence, Safety
3060 Saturn Street, Suite 100
Brea, California 92821-1732 USA www.iasonline.org
These two organizations also have marks that can be used by
member accreditation bodies (ABs) and accredited CABs. For ILAC,
it is the ILAC MRA mark which is different from the ILAC logo. The
ILAC logo only has the letters “ILAC” in the image. The ILAC MRA has
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