On 9 June 2021, World Accreditation Day was celebrated. This global initiative is aimed at promoting the value of accreditation and this year’s theme is “Accreditation: supporting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.

The 2030 Agenda is articulated across the 17 Development Goals (SDGs) bringing together economic, social and environmental dimensions and including the three key pillars: People, Prosperity and the Planet.

As in previous years, the Inter-American Network of Food Analysis Laboratories (INFAL) joined this celebration by organizing a virtual seminar that addressed issues such as the “Renewal of ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation” and the “Importance of Reference Materials in Accreditation” attended by speakers from El Salvador and Brazil, including an open debate with all participants to the meeting. 

According to the Inter American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC), “accreditation, in collaboration with other quality infrastructure institutions, including metrology, standardization, conformity assessment and market surveillance, provides the technical grounds that are critical for the functioning of developed and developing societies”.

The positive impact of accreditation is therefore clearly aligned with the pillars of People, Prosperity and the Planet and provides policymakers and companies with reliable and robust scientific evidence for decision making.

Competent food analysis laboratories are essential to ensure safe food by detecting chemicals and microbiological agents that may compromise food safety. Accreditation of assays in conformity with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 shows the transparency and competence of laboratories to guarantee reliable results.

Let’s join together on this day to acknowledge the huge work of laboratories to prevent and ensure food safety at global level.

Watch the recorded version of the event: here