Decision of IAF TC 18/04/05 (Frankfurt 12.5) on ISO/IEC 17021-1: IAF MD17 – The consensus was that the number of witnesses should be adjusted according to the accreditation cycle on a pro rata basis. MD 17 is being revised and this issue will be addressed at that time.
Question 1 – does this issue resulted in the new sentence added under clause 2.2.1 of IAF MD 17:2019 – The policy shall ensure that the ABs assess the performance of a sample of the conformity assessment activities representative of the scope of accreditation (see 7.4.5 of ISO/IEC 17011:2017)? Or there will come other changes on this issue?
Another point – IAF MD 17:2019 Clause 4.2.3. on the assessment program of QMS, EMS and OH&SMS schemes states – when the CB has demonstrated sufficient experience and performance for an enhanced programme, AB shall perform at least one witnessing activity in each technical cluster of each MS scheme, to be complemented with other assessment activities to guarantee that each technical cluster is assessed in a period not exceeding ten years.
Question 2 – concerning number of witnesses do AB’s need to implement this clause as underlined (without wording “to be complemented with other assessment activities …”)? Then AB need to adjust number of witnesses for CABs with small number of certificates.
Question 3 – Or assessment program of QMS, EMS and OH&SMS schemes should include at least one witnessing activity of each MS scheme, to be complemented with other assessment activities, to guarantee that each technical cluster of each MS scheme is assessed in a period not exceeding ten years? I.e., one witness audit for each scheme within 10 years to be complemented with certification file review during office assessments and other assessment activities to guarantee, that each technical cluster is assessed in a period of 10 years.
September 2019
Question 1 – The IAF TC mandate given to the IAF TF appointed to make changes introduced in the published revision of the IAF MD17 were in three folds:
• Incorporate IAF MD22 App. E in the IAF MD17 (ref. clause 7)
• Some editorial modifications based on the ISO/IEC 17011:2017 (ref. clauses 0.1, 1.1, 2.1.1 and 2.2.1)
• Modifications based on the IAF TC Meeting in Frankfurt (ref. above) (clause 4.2.3)
Therefore, the answer to this question is NO.Question 2- The answer is NO.
Question 3 – The requirements shall be implemented as written, therefore the answer is YES.