Who recognizes whom?
There are a number of mechanisms used to facilitate the acceptance of calibration and test data produced by laboratories across international borders. In some cases, a laboratory in one economy will buy or establish a subsidiary within the physical boundaries of another economy. Calibration and test data can then be exchanged and accepted between the parent laboratory and its subsidiary. In other cases, an agreement can be established between two or more organizations located in different economies to accept each other’s test data. Mutual acceptance of calibration and test data also results from the establishment of bilateral or multilateral arrangements between recognized authorities, such as between a recognized accreditation body and the signatories to ILAC [3]. These arrangements require each party to promote the acceptance of test results from laboratories accredited by the other party or parties. Mutual confidence in the competence of the other party’s testing laboratories is vit
