Question:
In IAF MD23, it is required that the CB shall establish a legally enforceable agreement with the candidate entity to include but not be limited to
- v) Details of the activities to be provided by the entity;
- Can the entity offer all the certification process including the decision on behalf of the CB?
- If the entity provides the whole certification process including the decision and the signature of the certificate, is it not mandatory according to EA cross frontier policy to be accredited by the local accreditation body?
March 2019
- Can the entity offer all the certification process including the decision on behalf of the CB?
The answer depends upon the relationship between the CB and the entity, as long as the entity is under the organisational control of the CB (as defined in ISO/IEC 17021-1) this is possible.
- If the entity provides the whole certification process including the decision and the signature of the certificate, is it not mandatory according to EA cross frontier policy to be accredited by the local accreditation body?
No this is not mandatory, but the Certification Body must ensure that the entity is competent and works in accordance with ISO/IEC 17021-1. Accreditation is one way of demonstrating this.