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The verified European purchase is EN ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015, Part 1: Requirements. Both Genorma and ISO identify the 2015 publication as published. The Part 1 designation matters: do not order a different part merely because its title also mentions certification bodies. European published product; ISO base and lifecycle.
Choose the correct published document
Match the buyer role to the document
The public scope covers competence, consistency and impartiality of bodies auditing and certifying all types of management systems. It identifies certification as third-party conformity assessment and says the body need not offer every management-system certification type. Publisher’s scope.
For a client buying a certification service, the practical objective is to understand the service scope and its assumptions. For a body developing its own capability, the project concerns how it will operate the particular certification activities it offers. State which role you occupy in the quotation request so that an adviser does not price the wrong project.
| Area | Question to put in the enquiry |
|---|---|
| System and edition | Which management-system publication and edition will the service use? |
| Organisational boundary | Which activities, sites and interfaces are included in the proposed scope? |
| Scheme-specific capability | How does the body address the particular system and sector being requested? |
| Audit assumptions | What information and access does the quotation assume? |
| Continuing service | What does the offer include after the initial decision and how are changes handled? |
Example: a company adding another site
Imagine a company with a quality management system that opens an additional operating site. It receives one certification proposal based on a small extension and another based on a broader review of the combined activities. The buyer needs to explain which decisions and processes are shared and which activities differ before either price is meaningful.
It could provide a simple map of the two locations and ask each bidder to state its scope assumptions. What information will be reviewed, what access is needed and how would the service address a later change in activities? This is an original comparison exercise, not a determination of audit duration, sampling rules or whether a particular certification arrangement is acceptable.
Keep the organisation’s standard and the body’s standard separate
For your own quality management system, see EN ISO 9001. For environmental management, see EN ISO 14001. For information security management, see EN ISO/IEC 27001. Name the intended system and its edition explicitly when requesting the certification service.
When establishing a certification body, ask which additional competence or scheme documents apply to the activities you intend to offer. Part 1 is the general requirements purchase, but an offer should explain the full basis used for your defined programme. Check the references in the licensed text and the applicable scheme rather than assuming one publication is the complete library for every activity.
- Order the full EN ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 designation, including the part number.
- Describe the management systems and sectors the proposed service will cover.
- Separate implementation consultancy from the certification engagement in your budget and responsibilities.
- Request a clear description of scope assumptions and continuing charges.
- Check the offered body’s actual activity scope and the evidence it provides for its claims.
Frequently asked questions
Should my company implement this instead of ISO 9001?
Its subject is the auditing and certification body. An organisation’s quality-management purchase has a different purpose. Identify the intended deliverable before selecting either document.
Does a body working to Part 1 certify every management system?
No. The public scope states that bodies need not offer all types. Ask for the particular system and service you need rather than inferring coverage from the general reference. European scope.
Is product certification the same activity?
For a body certifying products, processes or services, compare EN ISO/IEC 17065. A management-system statement and a product statement should have separately explained scopes.
Primary sources and edition check
- Genorma: published European Part 1 product and scope
- ISO: published 2015 base and management-system certification activity
Publication and purchase records checked on 7 October 2026. The examples and procurement questions are original guidance. Detailed implementation requires the applicable licensed text and decisions for the actual project.
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