ISO 17065

Conformity assessment — Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services

ISO/IEC 17065

ISO/IEC 17065 establishes the requirements for the competence, consistent operation, and impartiality of bodies that certify products, processes, and services. Published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), it is part of the ISO 17000 conformity assessment family and serves as the foundational standard for product certification bodies operating across all sectors.

While ISO/IEC 17029 governs validation and verification bodies (VVBs) and ISO/IEC 17021-1 governs management system certification bodies, ISO/IEC 17065 applies specifically to bodies that certify outputs, such as products, processes, or services, against defined scheme requirements. In the voluntary carbon market, this standard is relevant to bodies that certify carbon credits or emission reduction outcomes as conforming to the requirements of a specific crediting programme or standard, rather than auditing an organization's management system.

Within the ICR Program, ISO 17065 is only relevant for certification bodies auditing under the EU Carbon Removal and Carbon Farming (CRCF) Regulation.

Key Principles of ISO/IEC 17065

The standard is underpinned by a set of principles, set out in Annex A, that govern how certification bodies must conduct their activities:

• Impartiality: Certification bodies must operate independently and manage all conflicts of interest to ensure that certification decisions are objective and free from undue influence.

• Competence: Personnel involved in certification activities must have the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to evaluate conformity with the applicable scheme requirements.

• Responsibility: Certification bodies bear full accountability for their decisions and must retain authority over all certification activities, even where elements of the process are outsourced.

• Openness: Certification bodies must operate transparently, making information about their certification schemes, processes, and criteria publicly accessible where confidentiality does not apply.

• Confidentiality: Sensitive information obtained during certification activities must be protected from unauthorized disclosure through clearly defined procedures.

• Responsiveness to Complaints: Certification bodies must maintain accessible, impartial, and timely procedures for handling complaints and appeals from clients and other interested parties.