What are the Benefits of ISO/IEC 17065 Accreditation?

PCA NewslettersDecember 12, 2024

ISO/IEC 17065 is an international standard that specifies the requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services. It ensures that certification bodies operate in a competent, consistent and impartial manner, which is crucial for maintaining trust in the certification process.

ISO/IEC 17065 accreditation offers numerous benefits for certification bodies (CBs) and their stakeholders, as outlined below:

Enhanced credibility and trust

Recognition of competence – accreditation proves that a certification body operates competently and impartially, enhancing its credibility and trustworthiness
Consumer confidence – building confidence among consumers, regulatory authorities and other stakeholders that certified products, processes and services meet consistent quality and safety standards

Market access and competitive advantage

International acceptance – accreditation can facilitate access to international markets by meeting the regulatory requirements of different countries
Competitive edge – organizations with ISO/IEC 17065 accreditation demonstrate their commitment to high standards and quality assurance, providing them with a competitive advantage

Operational efficiency

Improved processes – implementing the standard’s requirements can lead to more efficient and effective certification processes
Consistency and reliability – ensuring that certification activities are carried out consistently and reliably, reducing errors and increasing overall efficiency

Risk management

Impartiality and integrity – the standard requires mechanisms to manage conflicts of interest and ensure impartiality, helping maintain the integrity of the certification process
Liability coverage – the provision of adequate arrangements for liability and financing help manage risks associated with certification activities

Continuous improvements

Regular audits and reviews – ongoing surveillance and regular internal audits promote continuous improvements in the certification body’s operations
Feedback mechanisms – the standard encourages the use of feedback mechanisms to identify areas for improvement and enhance service quality

These benefits collectively enable certification bodies (CBs) to operate more effectively, uphold high standards and foster trust with their clients and stakeholders.

Requirements of ISO/IEC 17065

ISO/IEC 17065 outlines essential requirements that CBs must meet to operate competently, consistently and impartially. These requirements are rigorously assessed and verified by accreditation bodies and must be fully implemented to achieve accreditation.

Here are the main categories of requirements:

General requirements

Legal and contractual matters – CBs must be legally established and have appropriate contractual arrangements in place
Management of impartiality – CBs must identify, analyze and document any potential conflicts of interest
Liability and financing – adequate arrangements must be made to cover liabilities arising from certification activities
Nondiscriminatory conditions – certification services must be accessible to all applicants without undue financial or other conditions
Confidentiality – information obtained during certification must be secure
Publicly available information – relevant information about the certification process must be accessible to the public

Structural requirements

Organizational structure and top management – CBs must have a clear organizational structure and defined responsibilities
Mechanism for safeguarding impartiality – there must be a mechanism for ensuring impartiality during certification

Resource requirements

Personnel – those involved in certification must be competent and have the necessary qualifications
Evaluation – must be adequate to effectively conduct certification

Process requirements

General – processes must be documented and consistently applied
Application review – to ensure the necessary criteria are met
Evaluation – compliance must be verified with specified requirements
Review and certification decision – which must be based only on the results of the evaluation
Surveillance – ongoing surveillance conducted to ensure continued compliance (if required)
Use of licenses, certificates and marks of conformity – must be controlled to prevent misuse

Management system requirements

General management system requirements – CBs must establish, document, implement and maintain a management system
Document control – procedures must be in place to manage all certification documents
Records control – must be maintained to provide evidence of conformity to requirements
Internal audits – regular internal audits must be performed to ensure the effectiveness of the management system
Management review - top management must regularly review the management system to ensure its continuing suitability

These requirements help ensure that CBs operate with integrity and reliability, building confidence in the certifications they issue.

How can an organization become ISO/IEC 17065 accredited?

Organizations must follow a structured process to become ISO/IEC 17065 accredited:

Application – applications must be submitted to an International Accreditation Forum – Mutual Recognition Arrangement (IAF-MRA) member accreditation body (AB), detailing the scope of its certification activities. Associated fees must be paid as part of the application process
Document review – documents on operation, management system and ISO/IEC 17065 compliance must be prepared and submitted. These are reviewed by the AB
Internal audit – performed prior to the on-site assessment to identify and correct any nonconformities in the quality management system
On-site assessment – conducted by accreditation officers to verify the organization’s consistency, competence and impartiality. Includes document and file reviews, performance reviews and interviews
Nonconformities addressed (if applicable) – AB will review corrective actions to ensure resolution
Accreditation decision – granted once the organization meets all requirements
Periodic surveillance – regular surveillance audits are conducted to ensure ongoing compliance

SGS and ISO/IEC 17065

As the market leader in pre-verification of conformity (PVoC) and other product conformity assessment services, we ensure that all our technical and administrative operations comply with ISO/IEC 17065 accreditation standards. This accreditation reflects our unwavering commitment to delivering professional, reliable and trustworthy services to clients worldwide.

Backed by over a century of proven objectivity, reliability and integrity, we are a trusted partner for governments and trading communities. We manage conformity assessment programs for government authorities in countries including Saudi Arabia (SASO), Kuwait (PAIKUCAS), Kenya (KEBS), Egypt (GEOIC), Algeria (IANOR), Nigeria (SON), Tanzania (TBS) and Uganda (UNBS).

Leveraging a global network of 2,700 offices and laboratories, we provide efficient, customized solutions to help exporters comply with regulatory requirements and ensure shipment conformity. Our comprehensive one-stop-shop service for testing, inspection and certification delivers tailored, customer-centric solutions designed to meet diverse needs.

For more details about SGS services, please contact the SGS office in your country.

Learn more about Product Conformity Assessment (PCA).

This article can also be found in our PCA Newsletter (Q4/2024) – which keeps you up to date with developments in technical barriers to trade and product conformity assessment.