TS EN ISO/IEC 17020

TS EN ISO/IEC 17020 is the Turkish adoption of a standard addressing general competence and impartiality criteria for inspection bodies operating across different sectors. Inspection is a conformity assessment activity used to determine whether a product, process, installation, or service meets specified requirements, so the technical capability of the body and the independence of its decisions are both central to trustworthy results.

Competence and impartiality in inspection bodies

The focus of this standard is the general framework needed for inspection bodies to produce reliable outcomes. Competence is linked to qualified personnel, suitable methods, appropriate equipment, and the consistent presentation of results. Impartiality means that inspection decisions are not influenced by commercial, organizational, or other pressures. In general technical terms, these two elements work together to make inspection a credible signal of conformity for third parties.

Bodies covered and practical context

The standard applies to impartial inspection bodies regardless of the sector involved. This makes it useful as a common reference for inspection practices in fields such as manufacturing, construction, machinery, energy, food, and other industrial settings where independent checking is needed. It sets out general organizational criteria for how inspection bodies operate, but it does not by itself define the technical product requirements of a specific sector or the detailed working steps for every type of inspection.

This entry is a withdrawn edition, so the text presented on the product page represents the historical standard content. Even so, it remains a useful reference for understanding the relationship between impartiality, independence, and technical competence in accreditation and conformity assessment.