Recognition Rules for Certification Bodies
This page outlines how IAF recognition is evaluated for Certification Bodies within the membership service area “conformity-assessment-bodies” (service_, including eligibility expectations, evidence requirements, and how committee review operates under IAQC oversight after membership.
Purpose and scope of recognition rules
IAF is a membership-based federation. Recognition for Certification Bodies is a structured, peer-evaluated outcome intended to support consistent application of automotive quality expectations across the federation’s membership activities. Recognition is not automatic and is not a regulatory authorization.
The rules described here apply to Certification Bodies participating under the Conformity Assessment Bodies membership service area. Recognition outcomes, where applicable, are only considered after membership is in place and are determined through committee review with oversight by the International Automotive Quality Council (IAQC).
Core rule elements used in recognition review
Recognition review focuses on whether a Certification Body can demonstrate consistent, impartial, and competent operation against defined scheme expectations, supported by documented controls and objective evidence.
Eligibility and scope definition
The Certification Body’s requested recognition scope must be clearly defined (programs, sectors, sites, and activities) and aligned to IAF membership service expectations, including how scope is controlled and updated.
Documented system and evidence package
Review relies on documented procedures, records, and traceable evidence (e.g., audit planning, competence records, decision records, and complaint handling) sufficient to evaluate consistent implementation across the requested scope.
Competence and consistency controls
The Certification Body should demonstrate how it qualifies, monitors, and maintains competence for auditors and decision makers, and how it ensures consistent application of criteria across teams, regions, and clients.
Impartiality and decision separation
Recognition review considers how impartiality risks are identified and controlled, including separation between audit activities and certification decisions, and how conflicts of interest are prevented, disclosed, and managed.
How recognition decisions are reached
Recognition is considered only after the organization is an IAF member within the relevant service area. The review process typically includes submission and validation of required documentation, structured committee evaluation against defined rules, and clarification cycles where needed to close gaps or resolve inconsistencies in evidence.
Outcomes are recorded through the applicable governance process and are subject to IAQC oversight. Where conditions or follow-up actions are identified, they are tracked through defined mechanisms to support consistent application of the rules across Certification Bodies.
Governance and IAQC oversight alignment
Recognition rules for Certification Bodies are applied through IAF’s committee-led governance model. Committees evaluate evidence and apply scheme expectations consistently, while the International Automotive Quality Council (IAQC) provides oversight to support impartiality, consistency of decisions, and controlled handling of changes affecting recognition criteria or processes.
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