ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015

Management system certification bodies

Accreditation of bodies that audit and certify management systems to ISO standards.

About the scheme

Accreditation to ISO/IEC 17021-1 confirms that a certification body audits and certifies management systems competently, impartially and consistently.

In addition to the general requirements of the standard, we apply the relevant supplementary documents for each management system standard — for example auditor competence requirements or rules for defining scope.

Who it is for

Certification bodies that certify management systems to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO 13485, ISO 22000 or ISO 50001.

What we assess

  • Impartiality and management of risks to impartiality
  • Competence of auditors and decision makers
  • Audit time and certification programmes
  • The certification process — from application to recertification
  • Witnessing of audits at client sites
  • The certification body's management system

Accreditation number format

DCS-MS-0000

Scope of accreditation

Standards and sectors

A certification body's scope of accreditation is defined by management system standard and by the sectors or technical areas in which competence has been demonstrated.

ISO 9001:2015

Quality management systems

Product and service quality, customer satisfaction and continual improvement.

Documents applied

  • ISO/IEC 17021-1
  • ISO/IEC TS 17021-3
ISO 14001:2015

Environmental management systems

Management of environmental aspects and compliance obligations.

Documents applied

  • ISO/IEC 17021-1
  • ISO/IEC TS 17021-2
ISO 45001:2018

Occupational health and safety management systems

Prevention of work-related injury and ill health through risk management.

Documents applied

  • ISO/IEC 17021-1
  • ISO/IEC TS 17021-10
ISO/IEC 27001:2022

Information security management systems

Protecting the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information.

Documents applied

  • ISO/IEC 17021-1
  • ISO/IEC 27006-1
ISO 13485:2016

Medical device quality management systems

Quality across the medical device life cycle.

Documents applied

  • ISO/IEC 17021-1
  • IAF MD 9
ISO 22000:2018

Food safety management systems

Control of food safety hazards across the food chain.

Documents applied

  • ISO/IEC 17021-1
  • ISO 22003-1
ISO 50001:2018

Energy management systems

Continual improvement of energy performance.

Documents applied

  • ISO/IEC 17021-1
  • ISO 50003

IAF ID 1

IAF/EA sectors

39

A certification body's scope of accreditation is defined using the IAF/EA classification of economic sectors.

Applies to

Show all
  • 1Agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing
  • 2Mining and quarrying
  • 3Food products, beverages and tobacco
  • 4Textiles and textile products
  • 5Leather and leather products
  • 6Wood and wood products
  • 7Pulp, paper and paper products
  • 8Publishing companies
  • 9Printing companies
  • 10Coke and refined petroleum products
  • 11Nuclear fuel
  • 12Chemicals, chemical products and fibres
  • 13Pharmaceuticals
  • 14Rubber and plastic products
  • 15Non-metallic mineral products
  • 16Concrete, cement, lime, plaster etc.
  • 17Basic metals and fabricated metal products
  • 18Machinery and equipment
  • 19Electrical and optical equipment
  • 20Shipbuilding
  • 21Aerospace
  • 22Other transport equipment
  • 23Manufacturing not elsewhere classified
  • 24Recycling
  • 25Electricity supply
  • 26Gas supply
  • 27Water supply
  • 28Construction
  • 29Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles, personal and household goods
  • 30Hotels and restaurants
  • 31Transport, storage and communication
  • 32Financial intermediation, real estate and renting
  • 33Information technology
  • 34Engineering services
  • 35Other services
  • 36Public administration
  • 37Education
  • 38Health and social work
  • 39Other social services

IAF MD 9

Technical areas

5

The scope of accreditation for medical device QMS certification is defined by technical area.

Applies to

Show all
  • ANon-active medical devicesGeneral non-active non-implantable devices, non-active implants and accessories.
  • BActive medical devicesGeneral active devices, imaging and monitoring, radiation and thermo therapy, active implantable devices.
  • CIn vitro diagnostic medical devices (IVD)Reagents, calibrators and controls for clinical chemistry, immunochemistry, haematology, histology and genetic testing; IVD instruments and software.
  • DSterilization methodsEthylene oxide, moist heat, aseptic processing and radiation sterilization.
  • ESpecific substances and technologiesMedicinal substances, tissues of animal origin, human blood derivatives, micromechanics, nanomaterials and biologically active coatings.

ISO 22003-1

Food chain categories

11

The scope of accreditation for food safety certification is defined by food chain category.

Applies to

Show all
  • AFarming of animals
  • BFarming of plants
  • CFood manufacturing
  • DAnimal feed production
  • ECatering
  • FDistribution
  • GTransport and storage services
  • HServices
  • IProduction of food packaging
  • JEquipment manufacturing
  • KProduction of (bio)chemicals

ISO 50003

Technical areas

8

The scope of accreditation for energy management certification is defined by technical area.

Applies to

Show all
  • aCommercial buildings
  • bLight to medium industry
  • cHeavy industry
  • dTransportation
  • eBuilding complexes
  • fEnergy supply
  • gMining
  • hOther

Path to accreditation

From application to decision

Accreditation is granted after a document assessment and an on-site assessment, and is maintained through regular surveillance.

The full process
  1. 01

    Application and review

  2. 02

    Document assessment

  3. 03

    On-site assessment

  4. 04

    Decision and certificate

ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015

Apply for accreditation.

Send us the basics about your body and the scope you are seeking — we will reply with application guidance and a quote.

Apply for accreditation