FAQ29

Can inspection companies accredited under ISO/IEC 17020 (Type A) be qualified to assess compliance with regulatory requirements to Automotive Service Stations and to issue certificates of compliance/conformity? Further, can bodies accredited under ISO/IEC 17065 also provide this service?

STANDARD: ISO/IEC 17011  ·  CLAUSE: 4.6.3  ·  TOPIC: Conformity assessment schemes

Answer:

If the scope of accreditation of the conformity assessment body (CAB) covers this service (compliance with regulatory requirements to Automotive Service Stations and issue certificates of compliance/conformity), the CAB can provide the services under accreditation. However, it is up to the scheme owner (regulator in this case) to decide: a. what type of conformity assessment body can assess compliance with specified requirements in the particular scheme b. what if any requirements for competence, consistency and impartiality (e.g., ISO/IEC 17020, ISO/IEC 17065) conformity assessment bodies must meet c. what if any demonstration of fulfilment of requirements for competency, consistency and impartiality (e.g., accreditation) the conformity assessment body must complete d. if accreditation bodies are involved in the scheme what if any requirements for competence, consistency and impartiality (e.g., ISO/IEC 17011) such bodies must meet e. if accreditation bodies are involved and must meet requirements for competence, consistency and impartiality, what if any demonstration of fulfilment of such requirements (e.g., peer assessment within the ILAC MLA) accreditation bodies must complete

It should be noted that ISO/IEC 17020 and ISO/IEC 17065 are not equivalent standards. Each has its own area of applicability. As indicated above, it is up to the scheme owner to judge which standard is the most appropriate choice for the particular scheme.