TSE ISO Guide 27

TSE ISO Guide 27 provides guidance on how a certification body may respond when its mark of conformity is misused or when a certified product is later found to be hazardous. The document is concerned with preserving the credibility of conformity marks and the integrity of product certification; in practical terms, it offers a procedural framework for deciding on corrective action rather than prescribing a product test method.

How a mark of conformity functions in certification practice

A mark of conformity is used to indicate that a product has been assessed against a specified standard, specification, or certification scheme. Misuse can take several forms, including unauthorized application, misleading claims, use on the wrong product, or reference to certification that is no longer valid. In general technical terms, the response is about more than correcting a label: it is about protecting the meaning of the mark and maintaining confidence in the certification system.

General response when a certified product is later found hazardous

The guide also addresses the scenario in which a certified product is subsequently found to be hazardous. This recognizes that product risk can emerge or become apparent after certification, due to new evidence, changed conditions, or newly understood hazards. In broader certification practice, such cases may call for re-evaluation, additional investigation, limits on use, review of certification status, and corrective steps related to mark use where appropriate. The document’s emphasis is on helping a certification body choose a consistent and proportionate response.

• This document identifies procedures a national certification body may consider.
• Its scope includes reported misuse of a registered mark of conformity.
• Its scope also includes cases where a certified product is later found to be hazardous.
• It is guidance for certification-body response, not a product design, inspection, or test standard.