Accreditation is a formal process through which a Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) is officially recognized, by independent and impartial third-party organizations, as operating in accordance with national and international standards and as possessing the required technical competence and capability.
National and international accreditation bodies evaluate Conformity Assessment Bodies—such as laboratories, inspection bodies, certification bodies, and verification bodies—against defined technical criteria. As a result of this evaluation, the competence of the relevant organization is approved, and its continued compliance is ensured through regular surveillance audits throughout the accreditation period.
Within the accreditation system, accreditation bodies that are signatories to the Multilateral Agreement (MLA) mutually recognize the equivalence of each other’s accreditation systems. Through this agreement, the services provided and certificates issued by Conformity Assessment Bodies gain international recognition and credibility.
Accreditation bodies vary from country to country. For example, DAkkS in Germany, UKAS in the United Kingdom, RVA in the Netherlands, JAKIM in Malaysia (for Halal certification), and HAK in Türkiye conduct accreditation activities within their respective jurisdictions. The primary objective of these institutions is to assess applicant Conformity Assessment Bodies within specific scopes and, where compliance with the required criteria is demonstrated, to formally attest their competence through the issuance of an accreditation certificate.
KAS is a Halal Certification Body accredited by both JAKIM and HAK. It continues to expand its halal accreditation scope, particularly in the Gulf countries and other international markets.