FAQ

1. According to §5.2.5 the CB and any entity under the organizational control of the CB shall not offer or provide management system consultancy. The organizational control in this sentence is referring only to §9.5.1.2-b). Does it mean that the examples of organizational control given in §9.5.1.2-a) and c) are not applicable for §5.2.5?
2. When the CB (within a defined legal entity) has a relationship with another legal entity (by ownership) and both are sharing part of their names (e.g. the same words for the group brand or affiliation), is this considered that the CB’s activities are being marketed or offered as linked with the consultancy organization, as per §5.2.9?

March 2024

1. NO: all examples of organizational control given in §9.5.1.2 are applicable for §5.2.5. As further confirmation, as clearly stated, example c) can also be linked to the form of organizational control referred to in example b), making it also applicable.

If example a), “whole or majority ownership”, is a form of organizational control that can support authority for decision making according to §9.5.1.2 it is also a form of organizational control relevant to the management of impartiality in §5.2.5.

2. NO: If the relationship between the CB and the other legal entity does not fall under the applicability of 9.5.1.2, then it cannot be considered that certification and consultancy services are marketed or offered as linked only because both organizations share part of the name. It is anyway expected for the CB to identify, analyze, evaluate, treat, monitor, and document the risks related to conflicts arising from its relationships, notably in this case, in accordance with §5.2.3.