As IQNET celebrates 35 years of shared trust and collaboration, I feel both honored and grateful to be part of this remarkable journey. Leading this network in the past years has given me a front-row seat to the passion, integrity, and commitment that define IQNET and its members. Ours is not just a network of certification bodies, it is a community bound by a shared belief in the power of competence, credibility, and cooperation.

The world around us is changing faster than ever. Digital transformation, sustainability imperatives, and new societal expectations are reshaping the role of conformity assessment. Yet, in every challenge, I see an opportunity for us to grow stronger together. IQNET’s collaborative spirit, its culture of mutual learning, and its deep respect for each member’s expertise are what make us truly unique.

Our mission has always been about more than certificates, it’s about trust. Trust between organizations and markets, between innovation and responsibility, between people and progress. As we look to the future, I am confident that IQNET will continue to lead with purpose, embracing new technologies, nurturing partnerships, and upholding the values that have guided us for 35 years.

To everyone who has contributed to this journey - Thank you! Together, we are not only celebrating our past but also shaping a better, more trusted future for the conformity assessment world. 

Happy 35th Anniversary, IQNET!

Alex Stoichitoiu

PRESIDENT, IQNET ASSOCIATION

"As we look to the future, I am confident that IQNET will continue to lead with purpose, embracing new technologies, nurturing partnerships, and upholding the values that have guided us for 35 years."

"Peer assessment helps to keep our network strong, reliable and trustworthy."

Having participated in several IQNET peer assessments – both in the role of auditor and as auditee, I see this tool really important and valuable for all of us in the Association. Peer assessment is not only about checking if we follow the IQNET rules or meet the accreditation criteria — it is mainly about building trust and learning from each other.

Each assessment is an opportunity to observe different approaches, share experiences, and take inspiration from others. I always feel that during these audits there is an open and friendly atmosphere where everyone can learn and share.

This trust is not only inside the IQNET community. It also goes outside, to our clients and partners, who can have more confidence in the certificates we issue. Peer assessment helps to keep our network strong, reliable and trustworthy — and reminds us that by helping each other, we all grow.

Lenka Šardziková

IQNET SCPM AUDITOR, SCPM MEMBER

DEPUTY HEAD CERTIFICATION BODY AND MANAGER OF SECRETARIAT, CQS z.s.

What do these successful companies have in common? An engineering firm with building projects across Europe; A functional beverage manufacturer with worldwide exports; An automation equipment designer with international clients.

What they all have in common is that they are certified to management system standards through the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI).

Like hundreds of other Irish companies, they reap the benefits of IQNET recognised certification in their export markets as a result.

Over three decades ago, NSAI was one of the founding members of IQNET – a pioneering international certification network.

Since that time, it has grown into a powerful global network with 39 partners, including NSAI, reaching every corner of the world.

As CEO of NSAI, Ireland’s official standards body, I represent NSAI at IQNET, along with our Head of Business Excellence, Stewart Hickey.

We see first-hand how membership of IQNET promotes certification on an international stage and how membership can bring potential for growth, even in these uncertain times.

As trade policies shift and new economic challenges emerge, opening doors to new markets is becoming more important than ever.

So, as we celebrate this landmark year, I would encourage every business and potential certification partner to find out more about the IQNET network - and the benefits and opportunities it can bring.

And what do all IQNET partners have in common? Working together as a powerful network, we are all continuously innovating to shape a safer, better and sustainable future.

"We see first-hand how membership of IQNET promotes certification on an international stage and how membership can bring potential for growth, even in these uncertain times."

Geraldine Larkin

CEO, NATIONAL STANDARDS AUTHORITY OF IRELAND (NSAI)

"IQNET membership allows us to offer our services internationally and thus accompany our customers on all continents of the world."

"The international division of labour and free trade are crucial for economic growth and prosperity. This is particularly true for Switzerland as a small, specialised and export-oriented economy.

The Swiss Association for Quality and Management Systems (SQS) is the leading conformity assessment body (CAB) in Switzerland. As a not-for-profit organisation, our mission is to promote Switzerland as a business location. We do this by providing high-quality, independent conformity assessment services that give our customers worldwide credibility and market access.  Our services are a lubricant for the international division of labour.

Our membership to IQNET is central to this. It allows us to offer our services internationally and thus accompany our customers on all continents of the world. Furthermore, IQNET enables us to engage in valuable exchanges with other leading CABs – with the common goal of ensuring the quality and reputation of our certificates.

We congratulate IQNET on its 35th anniversary and look forward to continuing our great cooperation!”

Felix Müller

CEO, SWISS ASSOCIATION FOR QUALITY AND MANAGEMENT-SYSTEMS (SQS) 

FOUNDING MEMBER AND IQNET PARTNER IN SWITZERLAND

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IQNET marks 35 years of collaborative influence in the conformity assessment industry

Bern, 02 April 2025 - This year marks another milestone for IQNET Association – the International Certification Network, as we celebrate our 35th year.

First named as European Quality Network (EQNet), eventually renamed as IQNET in 1990 to give way to interested members from all continents. Currently, IQNET has 36 Members representing 34 countries. Members’ offices now extend to 84 economies and territories, boasting a total number of 365 offices worldwide. To know more about IQNET Members in different countries, visit this site.

In 2016, IQNET welcomed affiliation from certification bodies who would like to learn more about the network, and make use of common opportunities for growth and business development. IQNET has three Affiliated Bodies to date benefiting from our cooperation efforts and provision of exclusive IQNET products and services.

Through harmonizing the knowledge and expertise of our Members, with the extensive reach our network could provide, IQNET through the years has established a collaborative influence in the conformity assessment industry and quality infrastructure, notably at a global level, but also with regional and local impact.

Collectively, IQNET Members are consistent in capturing 20% share, management system certificates alone, issued worldwide for quality, environmental, health and safety, and other management systems (average comparison with ISO survey from 2019-2024). Our conscious commitment to seeking mutual gains in our network resulted in the expansion of IQNET recognition of products and services to keep the businesses competitive in this changing industry landscape.

One third of IQNET Members as national standardization bodies, assist in setting the course in the development and strategy for ISO standards. Our contribution in the Accreditation area spans from chairmanship to convenorship of permanent committees and technical working groups in International Accreditation Forum (IAF), and active membership in regional accreditation forums.

This trustworthiness paved the way for IQNET to being acknowledged by scheme owners, quality infrastructure entities, among others, as a main contributor and partner. To know more about our international representations, visit: International Player.

The whole IQNET is inviting the business sector, our Members’ certified clients, partners and interested parties to celebrate this important year with us. To know more about IQNET and take the opportunity to learn from the public webinars and events our network has in store for you, you may regularly visit this site: 35 Years of IQNET.