The CASCO Toolbox

CASCO has produced a number of standards related to conformity assessment practices. These are referred to as the CASCO Toolbox and cover topics such as the operating of testing laboratories, marks of conformity, accreditation and the mutual recognition of conformity assessment results.

Learn more by consulting the full list of CASCO Standards

Presentations on CASCO standards

For some of the recently published CASCO standards, the experts of the Working Groups who developed them have done a Powerpoint presentation to highlight the main elements of the document and show the differences with the former version.
The slides can be used by anyone doing a presentation or simply to learn about the new standard.

• ISO/IEC 17020, Conformity assessment - Requirements for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection
  Powerpoint presentation

• ISO/IEC 17065, Conformity assessment - Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services
  Powerpoint presentation
  Background document

• ISO/IEC 17024, Conformity assessment - General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons
  Powerpoint presentation

• ISO/IEC 17021, Conformity assessment - Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems
  An overview (English, Spanish)
  Audit process (English, Spanish)
  Auditor competence (English, Spanish)

CASCO Interpretations

People working in conformity assessment sometimes have questions about how to interpret ISO/IEC standards on this topic. In order to en sure consistency in the interpretation of its standards, CASCO has set up an interpretation process. An ad hoc group of experts has been created to respond to each request for interpretation, called an interpretation panel.

The interpretation panel does not develop new requirements, instead it clarifies existing ones. These interpretations are considered for inclusion in the relevant standards when they are revised. Until they are included, they have no binding effect and are implemented at the discretion of interested parties.

Interpretations are published here.

• Interpretation request – ISO/IEC 17021:2006 clauses 7.5.2, 8.2.3 and 7.2.4/7.2.7(April 2010)
• Interpretation on clauses 8.3.1, 8.3.2 d and 8.3.2 e of ISO/IEC 17011:2004 (February 2010)
• Interpretation on clause 15 of ISO/IEC Guide 65:1996 (August 2009)
• Impartiality interpretation on clause 6.2.1 of ISO/IEC 17021:2006 (July 2009)

How to make an Interpretation request

More details on interpretation requests can be found in the document Casco Interpretation Process.

An Interpretation Request Form is also available.

Please note: Interpretation requests for standards developed by other Committees in ISO should be referred directly to the secretary of the committee in question.

Workshops

CASCO annually holds workshops in conjunction with its plenary meetings. These workshops are designed to allow a fruitful exchange of experience and practice in the fields covered. Topics covered can be seen below. More information, including past presentations, can be found by clicking on the links.

• 2011 Switzerland - Open day on conformity assessment
• 2010 France - Risk based approaches to designing conformity assessment strategies
• 2009 Switzerland - The role of International Standards in managing the global supply chain and traceability
• 2008 Switzerland - Conformity assessment standards in support of market surveillance

For more information on these workshops and how to get involved please contact casco@iso.org.

CASCO communiqués

CASCO has issued a number of important joint communiqués with regard to the transition to revised CASCO documents or to specifically address an important issue that requires clarification. These are given below and can be accessed directly.

2011

February - Joint IAF-ISO Communiqué
Transition to ISO/IEC 17021:2011 (PDF, 30 kB)

2009

November - Joint IAF-ILAC-ISO Communiqués
ISO, ILAC and IAF streamline quality management requirements for medical laboratories

August - Joint IAF-ISO Communiqués
Expected outcomes for accredited certification to ISO 9001 (PDF, 37 kB)
Expected outcomes for accredited certification to ISO 14001 (PDF, 43 kB)

January - Joint IAF-ILAC-ISO Communiqué
Management Systems Requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2005, General Requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories (PDF, 79 kB)