What is ISO/IEC 17021-1 about?
ISO/IEC 17021-1 series contains principles and requirements for the competence, consistency and impartiality of bodies providing audit and certification of all types of management systems.
Certification of management systems is a third-party conformity assessment activity and bodies performing this activity are therefore third-party conformity assessment bodies.
Note 1: Examples of management systems include environmental management systems, quality management systems and information security management systems.
Note 2: In ISO/IEC 17021-1 certification of management systems is referred to as “certification” and third-party conformity assessment bodies are referred to as “certification bodies”.
Note 3: A certification body can be non-governmental or governmental, with or without regulatory authority.
Note 4: ISO/IEC 17021-1 can be used as a criteria document for accreditation, peer assessment or other audit processes.
Who is ISO/IEC 17021-1 for?
ISO/IEC 17021-1 on conformity assessment with requirements for bodies providing audit and certification is useful for:
- Internal and external auditors
- Management board members
- Certification bodies and advisors
- Administration and services
Why should you use ISO/IEC 17021-1?
Certification of a management system, such as the environmental management system, quality management system or information security management system of an organization is one means of providing assurance that the organization has implemented a system for the management of the relevant aspects of its activities, products, and services, in line with the organization’s policy and the requirements of the respective international management system standard.
ISO/IEC 17021-1 specifies requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems. ISO/IEC 17021-1 gives generic requirements for such bodies performing audits and certification in the field of quality, the environment, and other types of management systems. Such bodies are referred to as certification bodies. Observance of these requirements is intended to ensure that certification bodies operate management system certification in a competent, consistent, and impartial manner, thereby facilitating the recognition of such bodies and the acceptance of their certifications on a national and international basis.
ISO/IEC 17021-1 serves as a foundation for facilitating the recognition of management system certification in the interests of international trade.
ISO/IEC 17021-1 also provides independent demonstration that the management system of the organization:
- Conforms to specified requirements
- Is capable of consistently achieving its stated policy and objectives
- Is effectively implemented
