In conformity with § 7.6.2 of ISO/IEC 17065, “the certification decision can be carried out by a group of persons [in regards with the requirements concerning committee in 5.1.4] that has not been involved in the process for evaluation”.
In the case of our example, this group is composed by the different interested parties including certified clients, to insure a balanced representation of interests in regards to 5.1.4 of ISO/IEC 17065.
Nevertheless, the clause 4.2.8 of ISO/IEC 17065 requires that “the personnel of separated legal entity [which produces the certified product] shall not be involved in (…) the certification decision.” In conclusion, the clause 4.2.8 seems contradicting the clause 7.6.2.
Shall we consider that certification decision could not be taken by a committee? or by a committee where certified client are excluded, but then it would not be a balanced interest group?
September 2021
Relevant requirements of ISO/IEC 17065 are listed below:
7.6.2 The certification body shall assign at least one person to make the certification decision based on all information related to the evaluation, its review, and any other relevant information. The certification decision shall be carried out by a person or group of persons [e.g. a committee (see 5.1.4)] that has not been involved in the process for evaluation (see 7.4).
NOTE The review and the certification decision can be completed concurrently by the same person or group of persons.
5.1.4 The certification body shall have formal rules for the appointment, terms of reference and operation of any committees that are involved in the certification process (see Clause 7). Such committees shall be free from any commercial, financial and other pressures that might influence decisions. The certification body shall retain authority to appoint and withdraw members of such committees.
4.2.8 When the separate legal entity in 4.2.7 offers or produces the certified product (including products to be certified) or offers or provides consultancy (see 3.2), the certification body’s management personnel and personnel in the review and certification decision-making process shall not be involved in the activities of the separate legal entity. The personnel of the separate legal entity shall not be involved in the management of the certification body, the review, or the certification decision.
NOTE For the evaluation personnel, impartiality requirements are stipulated in Clause 6 and additional requirements are given in the other relevant International Standards cited in 6.2.1 and 6.2.2.1.
5.2 Mechanism for safeguarding impartiality
5.2.2 The mechanism shall be formally documented to ensure the following:
a) a balanced representation of significantly interested parties, such that no single interest predominates (internal or external personnel of the certification body are considered to be a single interest, and shall not predominate);
b) access to all the information necessary to enable it to fulfil all its functions.
Actually, there is no contradiction between 4.2.8 and 7.6.2 clauses of ISO/IEC 17065 in relation to the use of a committee/group of persons for decision making. Certification decisions can be taken by a committee and also there is no need for a balanced representation of interested parties in such a certification committee.
A balanced representation of interests or significant interested parties is requested only for the mechanism for safeguarding impartiality, not for any other committee or organs of CB.
Provided that the overall competence of the committee and its members’ impartiality are ensured (the members shall not be involved in the evaluation activity of a product subjected to be certified based on decision-making), the committee for decision making is possible.
And, it has to be pointed out that clients of the CB (or parties eligible for certification) cannot be part of such a committee since this would imply direct conflicts of interest and contradict 4.2.8 clause of ISO/IEC 17065.