TS EN ISO/IEC 17021-1

TS EN ISO/IEC 17021-1 sets out the core requirements for bodies that audit and certify management systems. It provides a structured basis for competence, consistency and impartiality in certification activities, helping ensure that audit and certification services for different management system types are carried out in a trustworthy and comparable way.

A common framework for certification bodies

In certification practice, “competence” means that the people who audit and make certification decisions have the appropriate technical knowledge, experience and skills for the relevant management system field. “Consistency” is the ability to reach similar decisions for similar applications and findings. “Impartiality” refers to managing conflicts of interest, preventing commercial pressures from influencing audit outcomes, and preserving the credibility of the certification process. Together, these concepts support confidence in management system certification for customers, regulators and other interested parties.

What this part covers

This part applies to bodies providing audit and certification for all types of management systems, so it is relevant to certification bodies working with quality, environmental, information security, energy and similar management system fields. In general technical terms, standards in this area address the organisation’s structure, resources, personnel competence, audit management, decision-making and the protection of impartiality. This listing is about the principles and requirements for operating a competent certification body, not about the performance requirements of any specific management system standard.

• Covers the fundamental requirements for bodies that audit and certify management systems.
• Applies across all types of management systems, not just one sector or discipline.
• Places competence, consistency and impartiality at the centre of certification practice.
• Provides a framework for the organisation, resources and decision processes of certification bodies.