5.6.3. Institutional Implementation and Conformity Verification
Basically, conformity assessment involves checking that products, materials, services, systems or people meet the specifications of a relevant standard. Conformity assessment and product certification schemes, based on international standards, ensure the user (the manufacturer, organization or institution that implements the standard) and the final consumer that a product or service conforms to the criteria and requirements of a standard.
There are a number of ways for standard users to ensure that their product or service conforms to a standard: first-, second- or third-party assessments, testing, inspection, audits, declarations, certification, registration and accreditation. Certification is distinct in that it is based on the results of tests, inspections and audits and other procedures by which a competent third party gives written assurance that a product, process or service conforms to specified standards.
"ISO itself does not carry out conformity assessment. However, in partnership with IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), ISO develops ISO/IEC guides and standards to be used by organizations which carry out conformity assessment activities … Their use contributes to the consistency and coherence of conformity assessment worldwide and so facilitates trade across borders." (Taken
from http://www.iso.ch/iso/en/comms-markets/conformity/iso+conformity.html (www))
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