Two complementary pillars of the IAF ecosystem — one focuses on product compliance, the other on organisational competence.
IAF Standards
Technical, safety or sustainability criteria applied to a product, component or service. Compliance grants the right to use an IAF certification mark (e.g. “IAF Safety Vehicle”).
- Product-specific evaluation
- Single approval per model/version
- Label/mark for market trust
IAF Recognition
Organisation-wide recognition that a manufacturer, laboratory or service provider operates consistently and competently within a defined scope.
- System & competence assessment
- Ongoing surveillance audits
- Company listed in IAF Registry
Key Differences at a Glance
| IAF Standard Compliance | IAF Recognition | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Product / Service | Organisation / Facility |
| Certificate | Label or mark on each approved model | Recognition certification& registry entry |
| Validity | Applies to that product version | Ongoing (renewed via surveillance) |
| Typical users | OEMs certifying a vehicle line; suppliers certifying a component | Test labs, manufacturers, inspection bodies |
| IAF Example | Safety • Sustainability • Digital Integrity • Smart Mobility | “IAF-Verified Manufacturer” |
IAF’s Four Core Standards
Safety
Crashworthiness, ADAS validation, VRU protection.Sustainability
Life-cycle emissions, circular-economy raw materials.Digital Integrity
Cyber-security, OTA update resilience, data privacy.Smart Mobility
Vehicle-to-X interoperability, intelligent infrastructure.Unsure which path is right for you?
Explore our Standards portal to certify a product, or visit Recognition services for organisation-wide recognition.