New International Standard for verification bodies just published

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The validation or verification of information declared in claims is a key way of demonstrating that what is said is reliable and true. But only if those performing this confirmation are doing it correctly. A new ISO and IEC standard just published will ensure the validators and verifiers are competent, so everyone can have confidence in the claims.

ISO/IEC 17029, Conformity assessment – General principles and requirements for validation and verification bodies, contains general principles and requirements for the impartial, competent and consistent provision of validation and verification activities by the assessment bodies performing them.

The newly published International Standard is useful for organizations in any sector, providing assurance that claims are either plausible when it comes to the intended use (validation) or correctly stated (verification). It is designed to be applied in conjunction with existing sector-specific schemes.

As a framework for validation and verification activities, it provides the general requirements to which new sector-specific standards can refer, such as the upcoming ISO 14065, Environmental information – Requirements for bodies validating and verifying environmental information, due to be published in 2020. The two standards, therefore, will go hand in hand.

ISO/IEC 17029 is expected to form the basis of many more sector application standards across a range of industries that will benefit from its general requirements.

Dr Stefanie Vehring, Convenor of the working group that developed the standard, said validation and verification according to ISO/IEC 17029 are assessments that apply to declared information such as claims or declarations.

“ISO/IEC 17029 complements the established conformity assessment tools by fitting in between inspection and certification,” she said.

“It provides a conformity assessment approach where the information itself serves as the object of assessment and confirmation of this declared information is sought.”

ISO/IEC 17029 is the latest in a series of standards designed for the assessment and recognition of those performing conformity assessment activities and was developed by ISO’s Committee on conformity assessment (CASCO). Many of these are published jointly by ISO and its standardization partner, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

Together, these standards make up the CASCO Toolbox. Developed with input from stakeholders all over the world, the toolbox includes the contribution of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), two key ISO partners.

ISO/IEC 17029 can be purchased from your national ISO member or through the ISO Store.

 

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