The United Kingdom International Certification Body (UKICB) has announced the formal extension of its world-class accreditation services to three key emerging markets: the Asia-Pacific region, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and Sub-Saharan Africa. This milestone marks a significant step in UKICB's mission to be the accreditation partner of choice for conformity assessment bodies across the globe.
Why International Expansion Matters
Accreditation plays a foundational role in international trade. When a testing laboratory, inspection body, or certification organisation holds recognised accreditation, their results and certificates are accepted across borders without the need for costly re-testing or re-certification. This underpins billions of dollars in trade flows each year.
By establishing formal accreditation pathways in these three new regions, UKICB is directly supporting the economic integration efforts of governments and trade bodies that depend on consistent, reliable conformity assessment infrastructure.
New Regional Offices and Partnership Agreements
As part of the expansion, UKICB has signed cooperation memoranda with three regional accreditation bodies and will open liaison offices in Dubai (covering the GCC), Singapore (Asia-Pacific hub), and Nairobi (East Africa gateway). Each office will house a team of qualified technical assessors with regional standards expertise.
What This Means for Applicant Organisations
Organisations in these regions can now submit accreditation applications directly through the UKICB online portal, with assessments conducted by local teams. This dramatically reduces travel costs, accelerates timelines, and ensures culturally and contextually appropriate technical evaluations.
Accreditation scopes initially available in these regions include ISO/IEC 17025 (testing and calibration laboratories), ISO/IEC 17021-1 (management system certification bodies), and ISO/IEC 17020 (inspection bodies).
Looking Ahead
UKICB CEO Dr. James Hartley stated: "Our expansion into these dynamic regions reflects both the global demand for credible, independent accreditation and our commitment to supporting economic development through quality infrastructure. We look forward to welcoming organisations from across Asia, the Gulf, and Africa into the UKICB community of excellence."
For more information about applying for accreditation in these new regions, please visit our Services page or contact the UKICB regional desk.
