26 August 2026

The Global Accreditation Cooperation (Global ACI) and the Grain and Feed Trade Association (Gafta) have formalised their collaboration, recently signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). 

Global ACI is the successor to the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF). The organisation began operations on 1 January 2026, becoming the sole international authority on the accreditation of laboratories, certification bodies, inspection bodies, proficiency testing providers, validation/verification bodies, reference material producers and biobanks.  

Global ACI has assumed all former activities of IAF and ILAC, including the maintenance of a global Multilateral Recognition Arrangement among accreditation bodies responsible for accreditation of conformity assessment bodies, including testing laboratories. 

Further information on Global ACI is available at: https://global-aci.org/en/home/  

Gafta is the international trade association representing companies involved in the trade of agricultural commodities, spices and general produce. Gafta seeks to promote free trade of agricultural commodities, to encourage an open, predictable trade environment to avoid trade disruption, to promote international standards based on sound science to facilitate trade; and to raise awareness of the instrumental role played by the international trade in transporting safe, sustainable, nutritious and affordable food and feed from areas of surplus to areas of deficit to feed a growing world population and ensure global food security.  

Gafta operates a scheme for superintendents and a scheme for analysts that recognise Global ACI member accredited inspection bodies and test laboratories within those schemes. 

Further information on Gafta and its activities is available at: https://www.gafta.com/ 

In 2021, Gafta began cooperating with ILAC, and a MoU was signed in 2025.  This new MoU between Global ACI and Gafta reinforces both parties’ commitment to ongoing collaboration on the requirements of Gafta for the inspection of agricultural commodities, general produce, and spices for international trade.  

You can view and download the MoU here