Skip to main content
A Singapore Government Agency Website How to identify
Official website links end with .gov.sg
Government agencies communicate via .gov.sg websites (e.g. go.gov.sg/open). Trusted websites
Secure websites use HTTPS
Look for a lock () or https:// as an added precaution. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Singapore Accreditation Council

1991 to 2000

Explore key milestones in SAC's early history, from its founding in 1996 to its first international agreements and new accreditation programmes by 2000.

Last updated 4 August 2026

1996

29 January: Signing of bilateral agreements with National Accreditation for Testing Authorities (NATAS) Australia, Telerc (now called International Accreditation New Zealand, IANZ), American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) & Hong Kong Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (HOKLAS) for laboratory accreditation.

2 February: Singlas hosted APLAC 1st General Assembly.

11 October: 1st SAC Council was appointed.

Group photo of accreditation representatives at an international recognition meeting.

24 October: SAC was established with the signing of MOU between the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and the then Singapore Confederation of Industries (SCI).

Launch of Accreditation Programme for Quality Management System (QMS) Certification.

1997


19 November: SINGLAS becomes one of the inaugural signatories of the APLAC MRA.

Delegates standing beneath the APLAC Mutual Recognition Agreement event banner.

1998

1 April: SINGLAS was transferred from the then Singapore Productivity and Standards Board (PSB) to SAC.

27 July: Launch of Registration Scheme for QMS Auditor

5 November: SAC signed the Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC) MLA for QMS.

1999

29 September: SAC signed the IAF MLA for QMS. 30 November : Launch of Accreditation Programme for Environmental Management System (EMS) Certification.

2000

27 March: SAC signed the Bilateral MRA with the European Co-operation for Accreditation (EA) for laboratory accreditation.

Two representatives exchange documents at an accreditation signing ceremony.

27-28 March: SAC hosted the ILAC Accreditation Policy Committee Meeting.

2 October: Launch of Registration Scheme for QMS internal Auditor.

2 November: SAC signed the inaugural ILAC MRA for laboratory accreditation.

Group photo of international delegates at an accreditation conference.