What Is ISO Accreditation?The standard behind the standard
Accreditation is the independent verification that a certification body is competent, impartial, and operating to internationally recognised standards. Without it, an ISO certificate is little more than a self-declaration. This page explains what accreditation means, why it matters, and what JAS-ANZ accreditation means for your certificate.
Key Distinction
Accreditation vs Certification
These two terms appear together constantly in the ISO world but describe fundamentally different things. Confusing them leads organisations to accept certificates that carry less weight than they assume.
Certification is what your organisation receives. Accreditation is what the certification body that issues it must hold.
- Certification.
- A certification body audits your organisation against an ISO standard and, if conformance is demonstrated, issues a certificate. Your organisation is certified.
- Accreditation.
- An accreditation body assesses the certification body itself, verifying its competence, impartiality, and processes, and grants accreditation to operate. The certification body is accredited.
- Why the distinction matters.
- Any organisation can call itself a certification body and issue certificates. Only those that have been independently assessed and accredited by a recognised accreditation body carry the authority that regulators, procurement agencies, and trading partners require.
- The chain of trust.
- Accreditation bodies are themselves peer-assessed through international arrangements such as the IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA). This creates a global chain of trust from your certificate back to international standards.
Why It Matters
Why Accredited Certification Matters
An ISO certificate from a non-accredited body may look the same but carries significantly less weight. Here is what accreditation actually changes.
- Government and procurement acceptance
Australian government agencies and major enterprise supply chains typically require certification from a JAS-ANZ accredited body. Certificates from non-accredited providers may be rejected outright in tender evaluations.
- International recognition
JAS-ANZ is a signatory to the IAF MLA, meaning accredited certificates are mutually recognised by accreditation bodies in over 100 countries. Non-accredited certificates have no such recognition.
- Auditor competence is verified
Accreditation requires the certification body to demonstrate that its auditors are technically competent for the industries and standards they assess. You can trust that your auditor understands your business context.
- Impartiality is enforced
Accreditation standards prohibit certification bodies from having commercial interests in certification outcomes. Your certificate reflects a genuine independent assessment, not a paid outcome.
- The body itself is audited
Accredited certification bodies undergo regular peer assessments of their own processes, audit methodologies, and decision-making. The accreditation body acts as an ongoing check on the certification body.
- Conformance to ISO/IEC 17021-1
Accredited certification bodies must operate in conformance with ISO/IEC 17021-1, the international standard for management system certification bodies. This sets the bar for how audits must be planned, conducted, and reported.
JAS-ANZ
JAS-ANZ Accreditation in Australia and New Zealand
JAS-ANZ is the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand, the government-appointed accreditation body for both countries. MSCGlobal is accredited by JAS-ANZ to certify organisations to a range of ISO management system standards.
JAS-ANZ accreditation is not a registration or a membership. It is the result of a rigorous assessment process that verifies a certification body's competence, impartiality, and ongoing conformance with ISO/IEC 17021-1.
- Government-appointed authority.
- JAS-ANZ is established under an intergovernmental agreement between Australia and New Zealand. It is not a commercial organisation or a voluntary scheme.
- Ongoing oversight.
- JAS-ANZ conducts regular surveillance and reassessment of accredited bodies, including witness audits where JAS-ANZ assessors observe live certification audits being conducted.
- IAF signatory.
- JAS-ANZ is a full signatory to the International Accreditation Forum Multilateral Recognition Arrangement, providing mutual recognition of accredited certificates across more than 100 countries.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About ISO Accreditation
Questions we hear often from organisations evaluating their certification options.
Certified by an Accredited Body
MSCGlobal is accredited by JAS-ANZ to certify organisations to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 27001, ISO 22000, and HACCP. Our certificates are recognised by governments, regulators, and trading partners in Australia and internationally.
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