Q. What is ISO 17021?
ISO 17021 is a standard used by Accreditation Bodies (such as UKAS) for accrediting Certification Bodies who certify organisations against QMS and EMS management system standards (usually ISO 9001 and ISO 14001).
The standard innovates in presenting principles of certification, then the performance-based requirements that flow from them. These principles cover impartiality, competence, responsibility, openness, confidentiality and responsiveness to complaints. The standard underlines the need to ensure the competence of all the personnel of the Certification Body - not just auditors - in the management system certification process.
Requirements for impartiality include the following: demonstration by the top management of Certification Bodies of the need to avoid conflicts of interest between certification and consultancy, training and internal auditing services; the marketing of certification services, and the subcontracting of audits.
The Certification Body is required to set up a committee for safeguarding impartiality. The standard envisages that such a committee could include representatives of clients of the Certification Body, customers of these clients, trade associations, regulatory bodies, governmental and nongovernmental organisations, and consumer associations.
Additionally, the Certification Body is required to implement a management system to ensure its conformity to ISO17021.
Benefits to end users
The ISO 17021 standard was designed to increase confidence in management system certification by placing rigorous requirements for competence and impartiality on Certification Bodies that offer audit and certification to standards like ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.
When engaging with Certification Bodies, those seeking certification should choose one that has been accredited by their National Accreditation Body (NAB). In the UK, this is the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). This ensures they conform with the ISO 17021 standard.
ISO 17021 revision
ISO 17021 was revised in 2011, with its full title now being
ISO/IEC 17021:2011. This new edition sets new requirements for
the auditing of management systems and for auditor competence in
order to increase the value of management system certification
to public and private sector organisations worldwide.
ISO and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) have agreed
a two year transition period from the date of publication of
ISO/IEC 17021:2011 for Certification Bodies that carry out
management system certification, to bring their operations in
line with the new edition. The new edition retains the
principles of the original 2006 version, but adds new
requirements developed in response to market feedback, relating
to the competence of the auditors who carry out certification
and to the way in which they are managed and deployed.
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