BS EN ISO/IEC 17050-1:2004

Conformity assessment - Supplier’s declaration of conformity - Part 1: General requirements

Executive summary

General requirements for a supplier’s declaration of conformity.

Abstract

This part of ISO 17050 specifies general requirements for a supplier’s declaration of conformity in cases where it is desirable, or necessary, that conformity of an object to the specified requirements be attested, irrespective of the sector involved. For the purposes of this International Standard, the object of a declaration of conformity can be a product, process, management system, person or body.

This part of ISO 17050 does not define any particular object for the declaration of conformity.

History and related standards

This International Standard together with BS EN ISO/IEC 17050-2:2004, supersedes BS EN 45014:1998 which is withdrawn.

This standard includes the following cross reference:

ISO/IEC 17000:2004.

BS EN ISO/IEC 17050-1:2004 has been developed with the objective of providing general requirements for a supplier’s declaration of conformity.

The purpose of a declaration is to give assurance of conformity of the identified object to specified requirements to which the declaration refers, and to make clear who is responsible for that conformity and declaration. A supplier’s declaration of conformity may be used alone or in conjunction with another conformity assessment procedure for regulatory or non-regulatory purposes.

The standard addresses one of the three types of verification of conformity:

• Verification undertaken by the first party (e.g. the supplier of a product)
• Second-party verification (e.g. where a user issues verification for the product the user is using)
• Third-party verification.

Each of these three types can be used in order to increase confidence in the conformity of an object.

This part of BS EN ISO/IEC 17050 specifies requirements applicable when the individual or organization responsible for fulfilment of specified requirements (supplier) provides a declaration that a product (including service), process, management system, person or body is in conformity with specified requirements. Such requirement can come from normative documents such as standards, guides, technical specifications, laws and regulations.

Such a declaration of conformity can also make reference to the results of assessments by one or more first, second or third parties. Such references are not to be interpreted as reducing the responsibility of the supplier in any way.

These general requirements are applicable to all sectors. However, these requirements might need to be supplemented for specific purposes, for example for use in connection with regulations.

A supplier's declaration of conformity of a product (including service), process, management system, person or body to specified requirements can be substantiated by supporting documentation under the responsibility of the supplier. In cases where this is desirable, or necessary, reference is made to BS EN ISO/IEC 17050-2:2004