Qatar-based Global Accreditation Bureau (GAB) has become a member of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) – the global association of accreditation bodies, representatives of third-party conformity assessment bodies and accreditation bodies and stakeholders. GAB is the first and only accreditation body in Qatar that provides accreditation services to third-party certification bodies that certify compliance of management systems of organizations with ISO 9001 (Quality Management), ISO 14001, (Environmental Management), ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety Management) and ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratories and ISO 14065 (Validation/ verification of environmental information including greenhouse gas (GHG) assertions) standards accepted worldwide.

GAB’s inclusion as an Accreditation Body Member of IAF will enhance GAB’s international recognition and acceptability, as well as allow GAB to contribute and participate in the activities of IAF through its various committees. GAB’s latest IAF membership adds on to its previously attained status of being the Associate Member of Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC).

With the recent approval from IAF, GAB is now the first and only member of IAF, legally established and headquartered in Qatar, providing accreditation services to conformity assessment bodies which offer third-party certification to clients as per applicable international standards. The scope of accreditations covered under IAF include management systems certification, product certification, personnel certification, validation, and verification, etc.

Commenting on IAF’s latest recognition of GAB as an accreditation body member, Dr. Yousef Alhorr, Founding Chairman of GAB said, “The rationale behind GAB’s establishment as an accreditation body native to Qatar was to have a robust accreditation process in Qatar to ensure that the third-party certification process – which contributes to the quality of goods and services offered by certified organizations in Qatar’s fast-growing economy – is also under the oversight of a local body. GAB’s latest recognition by International Accreditation Forum as an accreditation body member reflects the strength and integrity of GAB’s accreditation program.”

Within MENA region, GAB is the first and only accreditation body that provides accreditation for validation and verification bodies in accordance with ISO 17029 and ISO 14065 for validation/verification of environmental information including greenhouse gas (GHG) assertions. GAB is among MENA region’s leading accreditation body providing accreditation services to third-party conformity assessment bodies.

In assessing the certification bodies, GAB’s resources and evaluation framework are in accordance with applicable international standards to ensure technical competence and integrity of the conformity assessment process followed by the conformity assessment bodies. GAB’s accreditation services are rendered in compliance with international standard ISO/IEC 17011 “Conformity assessment – Requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies”.