BS EN ISO/IEC 17021:2006 contains principles and requirements for the competence, consistency and impartiality of the audit and certification of management systems of all types (e.g. quality management systems or environmental management systems) and for bodies providing these activities.
Certification of a management system, such as a quality or environmental 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, in line with its policy.
Certification of a management system provides independent demonstration that the management system of the organization
- conforms to specified requirements,
- is capable of consistently achieving its stated policy and objectives, and
- is effectively implemented.
Conformity assessment such as certification of a management system thereby provides value to the organization, its customers and interested parties.
BS EN ISO/IEC 17021:2006 replaces BS EN 45012:1998, which is now withdrawn.
