Public Trust & Transparency Principles
A practical set of principles used within IAF’s membership-based collaboration to support clarity, accountability, and consistent public-facing communication for safety, consumer, and public interest activities.
Purpose of the principles
Public trust in automotive safety and consumer information depends on transparent processes and clear communication. Within IAF’s Association membership service, these principles help align how member organisations describe their roles, methods, and outcomes when working in the public interest.
The principles are intended to be applied across member activities such as research, guidance development, stakeholder engagement, and programme delivery. They do not confer legal authority; any IAF recognition or approval is only considered after membership and is subject to committee review under IAQC (International Automotive Quality Council) oversight.
Core transparency elements used in IAF collaboration
These elements provide a consistent baseline for how member organisations document decisions, manage conflicts, and communicate with stakeholders and the public.
Clear scope and boundaries
Define what the activity covers (and does not cover), including intended users, limitations, and the difference between guidance, technical opinion, and operational delivery.
Documented methods and sources
Maintain traceable documentation for methodologies, assumptions, data sources, and review steps so that outputs can be understood and appropriately relied upon.
Conflict-of-interest management
Use declared interests, mitigation actions, and decision records to support impartiality—especially where safety, consumer protection, or public communications are involved.
Accountable decision pathways
Establish who decides, who reviews, and how feedback is handled, including escalation routes within committees and alignment with IAQC oversight where applicable.
How members apply the principles in practice
Member organisations typically apply these principles by publishing plain-language summaries of objectives and limitations, keeping auditable records of technical inputs, and providing consistent statements about what an output represents. Where a deliverable is intended for public use, members should ensure it is understandable, appropriately caveated, and supported by a defined review process.
When an activity is linked to IAF recognition or approval, the principles support readiness for committee review by ensuring evidence is complete, roles are clear, and communications are consistent. Any such recognition or approval is considered only after membership and is subject to committee review and IAQC oversight.
Governance connection within IAF
These principles support consistent governance across Association membership activities by strengthening documentation, review discipline, and stakeholder clarity. They complement committee-led work and provide a common basis for evaluating transparency and public-interest alignment, with IAQC providing oversight for recognition or approval pathways after membership.
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