The Global Accreditation Cooperation (Global ACI) and the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) have formalised their continuing 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: global-aci.org.

The IFHA is the global leader for the international sport of thoroughbred racing. It seeks to promote all facets of the sport; protect the welfare of the equine and human athletes; and protect and grow its global social and economic significance for current and future generations.

Major areas of the IFHA’s activities include making and amending the International Agreement on Breeding, Racing and Wagering, policy development relating to welfare and safety of horses and riders, international race planning and grading, world rankings, the fight against equine prohibited substances and practices, harmonisation of racing rules, certification of IFHA reference laboratories, and fostering commercial development of the racing industry globally.

The IFHA is also a foundation member with Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) of the International Horse Sports Confederation (IHSC) and is affiliated to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

Further information on the IFHA and its activities is available at: ifhaonline.org.

For more than 30 years, the use of ILAC G-7 document Accreditation Requirements and Operating Criteria for Horseracing Laboratories has helped achieve greater consistency across horse racing laboratories, particularly in the area of anti-doping efforts. This document has been updated and reissued as Global ACI TECH-1-001(G), Accreditation Requirements and Operating Criteria for Horseracing Laboratories v1.0, and is available for downloading here.

Both organisations look forward to continuing their collaboration for the ongoing maintenance of Global ACI TECH-1-001(G) as an independent, third-party guidance document for horse racing laboratories.

It is further envisaged that under the MoU the collaboration be extended to:

• Related activities such as education regarding accreditation of horse racing laboratories and sharing of experience among assessors involved in the assessment of horse racing laboratories, when applicable;
• The facilitation of interlaboratory comparisons/Proficiency Testing programs;
• Encouraging the development of reference materials for drugs; and
• Continual updates for the accreditation community regarding changes to the allowed limits/thresholds of prohibited substances as defined by the IFHA.

You can view and download the MoU here.