The EA Multilateral Agreement (EA MLA) is a mutual recognition agreement signed by EA Member National Accreditation Bodies (NABs), which have been successfully peer evaluated by EA. Through this agreement, EA MLA signatories recognize and accept the equivalence of the signatories’ accreditation systems, the reliability of the conformity assessment results (e.g. a report or certificate) provided by accredited Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) by the signatories for the relevant scope.

The EA MLA mark is registered (for classes 41 and 42)

• At the European level, with the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) as a collective mark of the EU under no 018470320,
• At the international level, with the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) as an international collective mark under no 1 752 768.

On 31^st August 2025, the EA MLA mark is registered in all EA MLA member countries except Switzerland.

The EA MLA mark provides additional confidence to all interested parties in conformity assessment results provided by Conformity Assessment Bodies accredited by an EA MLA signatory.

The EA MLA mark demonstrates that a certificate/report has been issued by the accredited Conformity Assessment Body under accreditation and that the conformity assessment results are reliable.

Because it is meant to be used by several users, NABs and accredited CABs adhering to the same core of values, and not just by the owner of the mark, EA. Moreover, registration applies automatically to all 27 Member States at once in the EU.

The features of the collective mark of the EU are:

• It shows conformity assessment services supplied by EA NAB members who share common interests
• It creates confidence.
• It shall be used in compliance with the rules, EA-3/01 Supplement 1 and EA-3/01 Supplement 2 for the United Kingdom.
• It can be and has been used as a strong basis for registration at the international level.

The EA MLA mark is not a certification mark. It is not a quality mark and shall never be used on products or their packaging.

It means “European Recognition,” i.e., evidence that the NAB has been successfully peer evaluated and is a signatory of the EA MLA; and accordingly, that the CAB is accredited by a NAB signatory of the EA MLA.

It means you can trust the body using the mark, for the scope for which the NAB has been peer evaluated by EA, and for the scope for which the CAB has been assessed by the NAB.

It says the body is competent and impartial. It is a stamp showing the accreditation benefits and its geographical coverage.

It is about European Recognition. It says what you see can be recognized at the European level, in every country of the EA MLA members.

It can only be used only in the Member States and countries where it has been registered.

Albania, Algeria, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom.

• The NABs, if they are a signatory of the EA MLA, and always in combination with their own mark according to EA-3/01 S1 or EA-3/01 S2 for the United Kingdom.
• EA itself, in all its communications.
• The CABs accredited by a NAB signatory of the EA MLA always in combination with the accreditation mark, and according to the rules published by the NAB.

If a NAB decides to use the EA MLA mark, then it shall apply the rules set out in EA-3/01 Supplement 1 or Supplement 2 and, for the CABs, the relevant rules published by the NAB.

It is not an obligation for NABs to use the EA MLA mark, but they are encouraged to use it, especially in the accreditation information or on the NAB’s website. NABs can also use the EA MLA Mark in their correspondence (postal or electronic), social media and other publicity.

NABs may allow CABs to use the EA MLA Mark in the documents (certificates or reports) that contain conformity assessment results covered by the scope of accreditation of a NAB that is signatory to the EA MLA for that accreditation field. NABs may also allow CABs to use it in correspondence (postal or electronic), social media, and other publicity on the condition that it is not confusing for readers regarding the scope of their accreditation and remains within the NAB’s signatory scope of the EA MLA. The use of the EA MLA Mark by the CAB requires that it also complies with the rules established by the NAB for the use of its corresponding accreditation mark.

Except EA itself, nobody can use the EA MLA mark alone.

It means that the CAB is competent, impartial, and can be trusted in the conformity assessment activities it offers.

Always check the signatory status, the scope(s) for which the NAB has signed the EA MLA. The MLA mark cannot be used to promote services or results in a field for which the CAB is not accredited and/or the NAB has not signed the MLA.

It is not a negative sign. It may mean that the NAB is developing the rules internally and will soon use the mark!

It may mean that the activity reported or promoted is not yet covered by the MLA signatory status. For example, the inspection report will not have the EA MLA mark because the NAB has not signed (yet) the MLA for inspection; then accredited inspection bodies will not be able to use the MLA mark either.

Always check the accreditation status of the CAB and the MLA signatory status of the NAB!

You have a doubt, or a question? Please write to secretariat@european-accreditation.org