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IAF mark governance

Controlled Quality Marks & Public Claims

Clear rules for scope-bound status wording, approved artwork, public verification and the responsible correction of misleading claims.

Open Mark Rules Compare Pathways

What an IAF mark represents

An IAF mark is a controlled visual reference to a specific, current decision. It is not a general membership badge and it never expands the legal entity, site, programme, activity, method, product or validity period stated in the underlying scope record.

Decision before display

Artwork and wording require a valid independent decision plus the applicable recorded licence or authorisation.

Scope stays visible

The legal holder, programme, scope or schedule, identifier, dates and material limitations must remain clear.

Current status matters

Restricted, suspended, expired or withdrawn scope must be reflected promptly; an old certificate is not proof of current status.

Status and permitted use

StatusPublic meaningMark / claim position
Applicant / Under assessmentAdministrative or evaluation stage only.No active recognition or accreditation wording and no active-status artwork.
Active decisionOnly the exact approved scope and effective dates shown in the decision record.Use only issued artwork, authorised wording and the required identifier/scope reference.
RestrictedOnly expressly retained scope remains active.Claims must show the restriction; a broad headline cannot conceal it.
Suspended / Expired / WithdrawnNo active claim for the affected scope.Stop or qualify affected use and preserve accurate historical records without presenting them as current.

Placement boundaries

  • Corporate recognition: approved corporate websites, presentations, facility displays or stationery may carry the bounded claim when the licence permits it and the scope is clear.
  • No implied product approval: a corporate or CAAR body mark must not appear on vehicles, products, packaging, approval plates or reports in a way that suggests unrelated product certification.
  • No automatic personal licence: recognition of a professional practice does not create a transferable personal licence or mean that IAF endorsed an individual technical opinion.
  • Separate decisions remain separate: technical-standard conformity, education accreditation, body accreditation and corporate recognition require their own applicable scope and decision.

Verify before relying

Match the legal holder and record ID, then check the programme, scope version, sites or outputs, effective dates, current status and restrictions. A QR code may help navigate to a record, but it is not by itself proof of authenticity or current validity.

If a lookup is unavailable or conflicts with a document, treat the result as unresolved and request controlled confirmation before making a consequential decision.

Programme mark and claim rules

ProgrammeControlled document
AEAR — Automotive EducationStandard & Internal Directives
CAAR — Conformity AssessmentReport Trust & Mark Usage Rules
CRP — Manufacturers & AssemblersStatus & Mark Usage Rules
PSR — Product & System SuppliersStatus & Mark Usage Rules
SNR — Service NetworksStatus & Mark Usage Rules
SDR — Software & Digital SystemsStatus & Mark Usage Rules
PPR — Professional PracticesStatus & Mark Usage Rules

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