APLAC

NATA is one of the founding members of the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC), which is a cooperation between the various laboratory and inspection accreditation bodies in the Asia Pacific region. NATA also provides APLAC's Secretariat.

APLAC is one of APEC's five Specialist Regional Bodies (SRBs) and is recognised by the APEC Sub-Committee on Standards and Conformance. As with ILAC, the objectives of APLAC are to develop and harmonise the procedures and practices of laboratory and inspection body accreditation organisations in the region.

APLAC was created in 1992 and formalised in 1995 when 16 Asia-Pacific bodies signed a memorandum of understanding. In 1997, NATA was one of seven inaugural signatories to the APLAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) enabling the acceptance of test and calibration data from accredited laboratories amongst these countries. The further development of the MRA will enable APLAC to expand its participation in the global ILAC Arrangement, as well as improve trade relations within the region and beyond.

In November 2003, NATA was one of 4 inaugural signatories to the extended APLAC MRA to include accreditation of inspection bodies.

In December 2007 NATA was one of 4 inaugural signatories to the extended APLAC MRA to include accreditation of reference material producers (RMPs).

Regional services

NATA also provides assistance to developing laboratory accreditation bodies in the Asia-Pacific region, and provides training for their staff, both offshore and in Australia. It regularly hosts delegations from Asia-Pacific countries and other regions that are keen to learn more from the extensive experience NATA has during more than 60 years of operation.