IAF ID 2:2011

International Accreditation Forum, Inc.

IAF Informative Document

IAF Informative Document
forthe Transition ofManagement System
Accreditation to ISO/IEC 17021:2011
from ISO/IEC 17021:2006

Issue 1

(IAF ID 2:2011)

The International Accreditation Forum, Inc. (IAF) operates programs for the accreditation ofbodies that provide conformity assessment services, and such accreditation facilitates tradeand reduces demands for multiple certifications.

IAF ID 2:2011
Issue 1

International Accreditation Forum, Inc.
IAF Informative Document for Transition of Management
System Accreditation to ISO/IEC 17021:2011 fromISO/IEC 17021:2006

Page 2 of 7Accreditation reduces risk for business and its customers by assuring them that accredited
Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) are competent to carry out the work they undertake
within their scope of accreditation. Accreditation Bodies (ABs) which are members of IAF
and their accredited CABs are required to comply with appropriate international standards andIAF mandatory documents for the consistent application of those standards.
AB members of the IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) conduct regular
evaluations of each other to assure the equivalence of their accreditation programs. The IAFMLAs operate at two levels:•A MLA for the accreditation of CABs to standards including ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection
bodies, ISO/IEC 17021 for management systems CABs, ISO/IEC 17024 for personnel CABs andISO/IEC Guide 65 for product CABs, is considered a framework MLA. A framework MLA
provides confidence that accredited CABs are equally reliable in the performance of conformity
assessment activities.

•A MLA for the accreditation of CABs that also includes the specific conformity assessment
standard or scheme as a scope of accreditation provides confidence in the equivalence ofcertification.

An IAF MLA delivers the confidence needed for market acceptance of certification. An
organization or person with certification to a specific standard or scheme that is accredited by
an IAF MLA signatory AB can be recognized worldwide thereby facilitating international
trade.

Issue No 1
Prepared by: IAF Technical Committee
Date: 10 November 2010
Approved by: IAF Members
Date: 13 January 2011
Issue Date: 1 February 2011
Application Date: 1 February 2013
Name for Enquiries:
John Owen, IAF Corporate Secretary
Contact: Phone: +612 9481 7343;
Email: secretary1@iaf.nu

Issued 1 February 2011

Application Date 1 February 2013

IAF-ID2-2011 ISO 17021
Transition© International Accreditation Forum, Inc. 2011

IAF ID 2:2011
Issue 1

International Accreditation Forum, Inc.
IAF Informative Document for Transition of Management
System Accreditation to ISO/IEC 17021:2011 fromISO/IEC 17021:2006

Page 3 of 7

Introduction to IAF Informative Documents
This IAF Informative Document reflects the consensus of IAF members on this subject and isintended to support the consistent application of requirements. However, being a document
for information purposes only, IAF Accreditation Body Members, and the Conformity
Assessment Bodies they accredit, are not under any obligation to use or comply with anything
in this document.

Issued 1 February 2011

Application Date 1 February 2013

IAF-ID2-2011 ISO 17021
Transition© International Accreditation Forum, Inc. 2011

International Accreditation Forum, Inc.
IAF Informative Document for Transition of Management
System Accreditation to ISO/IEC 17021:2011 fromISO/IEC 17021:2006

IAF ID 2:2011
Issue 1Page 4 of 7

Information on the Transition of Management System
Accreditation to ISO/IEC 17021:2011
from ISO/IEC 17021:2006
1. Publication
ISO/IEC 17021 was revised on 1 February 2011. It incorporates new requirements for thirdparty certification auditing of management systems and the competence of personnel involvedin the certification process. This was originally developed as ISO/IEC 17021 Part 2.
Resolution 2010-12 was passed by the IAF General Assembly in Shanghai 29 October 2010
endorsing a 2 year transition period to ISO/IEC 17021:2011.
2. Accreditation Bodies
Accreditation Bodies will need time to prepare for the transition to ISO/IEC 17021:2011. In
particular, Accreditation Bodies should ensure they have defined, and that their assessors haveachieved, the necessary competence before undertaking assessments to ISO/IEC 17021:2011.
3. Certification Bodies
Accreditation Bodies should make it clear to Certification Bodies that apply for accreditation
following the publication of ISO/IEC 17021:2011 if they are to comply with this version
immediately or to the 2006 version. Accreditation Bodies should define a time limit after
which application to ISO/IEC 17021:2006 cannot be received and must be transferred toISO/IEC 17021:2011 application. They should advise a date beyond which they cannot issue
accreditation to ISO/IEC 17021:2006.
3.1. Certification Bodies with prior Accreditation
Certification Bodies accredited at the time of publication will be in conformance with
ISO/IEC 17021:2006. Transition to ISO/IEC 17021:2011 may require translations, changes
to procedures, training and other arrangements which will take time. In particular, time will
be needed for Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) to establish processes and systems forthem to be able to demonstrate the competence of its certification personnel.
3.2 Preparation timeIssued 1 February 2011

Application Date 1 February 2013

IAF-ID2-2011 ISO 17021
Transition© International Accreditation Forum, Inc. 2011

IAF ID 2:2011
Issue 1

International Accreditation Forum, Inc.
IAF Informative Document for Transition of ManagementSystem Accreditation to ISO/IEC 17021:2011 fromISO/IEC 17021:2006

Page 5 of 7

Certification Bodies should analyse and understand the requirements of ISO/IEC 17021:2011
and commence identification of new requirements in the standard without delay. Certification
Bodies are advised to make a transition plan to determine both the required changes to their
management system and the time frame required to execute them in order to conform to thestandard. Certification Bodies are further advised to agree their transition plan with their
Accreditation Body.
3.3 Transition and Implementation
Wherever possible and where there are no significant obstacles, a Certification Body should
implement those parts of ISO/IEC 17021:2011 that it can without delay.
Assessment by an Accreditation Body should cover a Certification Body’s plans for
effectively managing its transition. The examination of these plans should enable theAccreditation Body to identify those points of the standard which have been interpreted
differently or implemented insufficiently by Certification Bodies, and which may eventuallylead to the need for additional IAF advice. The examination of these transition plans should
also enable the Accreditation Body and Certification Body to agree upon an end date for thetransition process, which should not go beyond 1 February 2013 (2 years from publication).
Certain changes resulting from ISO/IEC 17021:2011 will be easier to complete than others.
More complex, time consuming and potentially costly changes could include setting up
training regimes, software systems and the implementation of systems to demonstratecompetence. In recognition of the need to limit the disruption to a Certification Body’sclients, certain changes may be more appropriately carried out during the normal businesscycle at the time of contract renewal or certificate re-issue.
4. Visits by Accreditation Bodies
Additional visits by Accreditation Bodies to assess solely against ISO/IEC 17021:2011 are
not normally required. The implementation should be verified during normal scheduled
surveillance activities. However, additional assessments may be necessary for a Certification
Body requesting accreditation within an accelerated time frame.
5. Nonconformities
Accreditation Bodies should make it clear to Certification Bodies that where an assessment isconducted against ISO/IEC 17021:2011, any nonconformities identified should be dealt withIssued 1 February 2011

Application Date 1 February 2013

IAF-ID2-2011 ISO 17021
Transition© International Accreditation Forum, Inc. 2011

IAF ID 2:2011
Issue 1

International Accreditation Forum, Inc.
IAF Informative Document for Transition of Management
System Accreditation to ISO/IEC 17021:2011 fromISO/IEC 17021:2006

Page 6 of 7

according to the Accreditation Body's normal processes and must be cleared before the end oftransition before accreditation to ISO/IEC 17021:2011 can be granted.
Where full implementation of specific clauses identified by the CAB and agreed in advancewith the AB have not been completed by the end of transition, such changes should be raised
as observations and should not adversely affect accreditation and should not preclude theissue of an accreditation certificate to ISO/IEC 17021:2011 provided that an implementation
plan has been agreed and is on schedule.
An example might include the completion of training and evaluation of all salespersons tomeet new requirements in the normative Annex A in ISO/IEC 17021:2011.
6. End of transition and Accreditation Certificate Issue
On 1 February 2013, two years after publication of the new standard, all accredited
Certification Bodies are expected to be in full compliance with ISO/IEC 17021:2011 and have
had new accreditation certificates issued.
7. New Schemes
It is expected ISO/IEC 17021:2011 will be applied immediately to applications byCertification Bodies and by Accreditation Bodies for accreditation to management system
certification programmes. The standard to be used for any other new schemes should bemade clear to Certification Bodies by Accreditation Bodies.

End of IAF Informative Document for the Transition of Management System Accreditation toISO/IEC 17021:2011 from ISO/IEC 17021:2006.

Issued 1 February 2011

Application Date 1 February 2013

IAF-ID2-2011 ISO 17021
Transition© International Accreditation Forum, Inc. 2011

IAF ID 2:2011
Issue 1

International Accreditation Forum, Inc.
IAF Informative Document for Transition of Management
System Accreditation to ISO/IEC 17021:2011 fromISO/IEC 17021:2006

Page 7 of 7

Further Information
For further Information on this document or other IAF documents, contact any member of
IAF or the IAF Secretariat.
For contact details of members of IAF see - IAF Web Site - <http://www.iaf.nu>
Secretariat John Owen,
IAF Corporate Secretary,
Telephone +612 9481 7343
email <secretary1@iaf.nu>

Issued 1 February 2011

Application Date 1 February 2013

IAF-ID2-2011 ISO 17021
Transition© International Accreditation Forum, Inc. 2011