Requirements ation of ISO /IEC 17011

ISO/IEC 17011:2004 is an International Standard, which sets out criteria for conformity assessment for

Accreditation Bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies. There are no specific requirements in relation to those Accreditation Bodies carrying out assessment of conformity assessment bodies working with food safety schemes.

Since 2000 GFSI has worked closely with a number of major stakeholders in the food industry in an attempt to harmonise processes related to food safety schemes and has benchmarked and recognised four post-farm gate schemes.

Over a period of time each of these schemes has developed their own set of criteria in relation to the accreditation process, which has lead to a diversity of requirements; this, in turn, has lead to complexity of process, increased cost and a lack of clarity. It is believed that with the implementation of this document as part of the GFSI Guidance Document there will be significant benefits for GFSI recognised scheme owners, Accreditation Bodies and Certification Bodies.

The GFSI Accreditation Task Force was formed in February 2008 with the objective of facilitating dialogue between GFSI recognised scheme owners and other interested parties in order to harmonise their approach and minimise the effects that the diversification of requirements has caused.

This document is the culmination of work undertaken by GFSI and the four GFSI recognised scheme owners in 2008 and 2009 to specify harmonised requirements in relation to the accreditation of conformity assessment bodies carrying out product certification to the GFSI recognised schemes.

The document has been entitled ‘Requirements’ to reflect the fact that this document is not regarded as

being notes for guidance and will be the subject of further work with GFSI and the GFSI recognised scheme

owners to ensure compliance with the specified requirements by those Accreditation Bodies working with

GFSI recognised schemes.

The document has been developed to enhance the robustness of the accreditation process in relation to GFSI

recognised schemes and it must be stressed that its use relates only to the requirements of GFSI recognised schemes.

The document has not been developed to revise or amend confidentiality arrangements, which may exist between scheme owners, Certification Bodies and Accreditation Bodies; however, it is meant to promote communication and co-operation between these parties, when consumer health or the integrity of certification has been compromised.

The term ‘shall’ is used in the document to indicate those provisions, which are regarded as being mandatory. There are requirements within the document, which are specific with respect to parameters of assessment; these shall be regarded as minimum requirements and do not preclude Accreditation Bodies carrying out additional activities in the event that they would wish to, or deem it appropriate to do so.

GFSI wishes to continue to work closely with IAF and its members in a spirit of co-operation to ensure the implementation of these