ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 Compliant Third-Party Conformity Assessment Body

Impartial, Competent & Independent Management System Certification

BONAFIDE CERTIFICATIONS PRIVATE LIMITED provides objective, third-party audit and certification services across India for Quality (ISO 9001:2015), Environmental (ISO 14001:2015), Occupational Health & Safety (ISO 45001:2018), and Integrated Management Systems (IAF MD 11:2023).

Regulatory Transparency Notice Public Disclosure

✓ Accreditation Status: Formal applicant for initial accreditation with International Accreditation Service (IAS) under IAS AC477.
✓ Zero Consultancy Firewall: Strictly no management system consultancy, manual drafting, or internal audit services offered (ISO/IEC 17021-1 Cl. 5.2.5).
✓ Operational Territory: India (Headquartered in India; direct central governance without outsourced certification franchisees).
✓ Open Access Policy: All certification procedures, fee criteria, impartiality policies, and appeal mechanisms are published openly without request (Cl. 8.1.1).

Accreditation Sub-Scopes (ISO/IEC 17021-1 Cl. 8.1.1c)

Core Management System Certification Schemes

Structured in accordance with ISO/IEC 17021 series competence criteria and IAF Mandatory Documents across 24 industrial and service IAF sector codes.

QMS ISO/IEC 17021-3

ISO 9001:2015

Quality Management Systems

Independent verification of process consistency, customer satisfaction focus, risk-based thinking, and statutory/regulatory product & service conformity across 23 requested IAF codes.

EMS ISO/IEC 17021-2

ISO 14001:2015

Environmental Management Systems

Objective assessment of environmental aspects, life-cycle perspective, pollution prevention, and compliance obligations across 16 industrial, construction, and service IAF sectors.

OH&SMS ISO/IEC TS 17021-10

ISO 45001:2018

Occupational Health & Safety MS

Rigorous evaluation of hazard elimination, OH&S risk controls, worker participation, and legal compliance verification under IAF MD 22:2023 across 22 IAF sector codes.

IMS IAF MD 11:2023

Integrated MS Audits

Combined QMS / EMS / OH&SMS

Simultaneous conformity assessment of integrated documentation, management reviews, and internal audits across two or more standards with transparent IAF MD 11 time calculation.

ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 Clause 4

Principles Inspiring Public Confidence & Trust

4.2 Impartiality

Decisions are strictly based on objective evidence of conformity, free from commercial, financial, or self-review pressures.

4.3 Competence

Auditors, application reviewers, and decision makers are evaluated against sector-specific technical criteria prior to authorization.

4.4 Responsibility

The certified client retains responsibility for achieving intended MS outcomes; Bonafide evaluates sufficient objective audit evidence.

4.5 Openness

Timely public access to audit/certification processes, impartiality policy, and real-time certification status verification.

4.6 Confidentiality

Strict legally enforceable protection of proprietary client records obtained during conformity assessment activities.

4.7 Responsiveness to Complaints

Independent, non-discriminatory investigation and resolution of complaints and appeals from clients and stakeholders.

4.8 Risk-Based Approach

Systematic identification and mitigation of risks relating to audit sampling, impartiality, legal/regulatory obligations, auditor safety, and misleading use of certification marks.

ISO/IEC 17021-1 Cl. 5.1, 5.2, 6.1 & 8.1.1(f)

Organizational Profile, Governance & Impartiality Policy

Legal identity, structural independence, and binding impartiality safeguards governing BONAFIDE CERTIFICATIONS PRIVATE LIMITED.

Legal Entity & Structural Disclosure (ISO/IEC 17021-1 Cl. 5.1 & 6.1)

AC477 Cl. 2.10 & IAF MD 23

Complete Legal Name

BONAFIDE CERTIFICATIONS PRIVATE LIMITED

Legal Status & Liability (Cl. 5.1.1 & 5.3.1)

Incorporated Private Limited Company in India holding full legal responsibility and professional liability coverage for its certification activities.

Geographic Area of Operation (Cl. 8.1.2a & AC477 Cl. 5.8.7)

India (Main Office & Central Certification Governance)

Key Locations, Branches & Subcontractors (IAF MD 23:2023)

None. All key certification activities—policy formulation, application review, audit team assignment, and certification decisions—are executed directly by BONAFIDE CERTIFICATIONS PRIVATE LIMITED.

Accreditation Application Status

Initial Applicant with International Accreditation Service (IAS) under IAS AC477 (Main Scope: ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015).

Independent Impartiality Mechanism (Cl. 5.2.3)

Oversight by an independent, balanced Impartiality Committee representing industry, clients, regulators, and consumer/public interests with no single interest predominating.

Mandatory Public Policy • Doc Ref: BCPL-POL-01

Top Management Policy on Impartiality

Top Management of BONAFIDE CERTIFICATIONS PRIVATE LIMITED is fully committed to impartiality, objectivity, and independence in all management system audit and certification activities conducted under ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 and IAS AC477.

We recognize that the primary source of revenue for a certification body is its client paying for certification, which represents a potential threat to impartiality. To preserve public confidence and ensure that all certification decisions are based strictly on objective evidence of conformity (or nonconformity), BONAFIDE CERTIFICATIONS PRIVATE LIMITED enforces the following non-negotiable rules:

1. Absolute Prohibition of Management System Consultancy

In accordance with ISO/IEC 17021-1 Cl. 5.2.5, IAS AC477 Cl. 3.4, and IAF MD 22 Cl. G 3.3, BONAFIDE CERTIFICATIONS PRIVATE LIMITED and any entity under its organizational control shall never offer or provide management system consultancy, manual/procedure preparation, gap analysis, internal audits, OH&S coordinator duties, OH&S risk assessments, or accident/incident investigations.

2. Mandatory Two-Year Cooling-Off Firewall

Per ISO/IEC 17021-1 Cl. 5.2.6, 5.2.7 & 5.2.10, Bonafide shall not certify any management system on which internal audits or consultancy were provided by a related entity or personnel within a minimum period of two (2) years following completion of such activities.

3. Separation of Marketing & Audit Outsourcing

Per Cl. 5.2.8 & 5.2.9, Bonafide never outsources audits to any management system consultancy organization, nor markets or links its certification services with any consultancy firm implying simpler, faster, or cheaper certification.

4. Prohibition on Certifying Other CBs

Per Cl. 5.2.4, BONAFIDE CERTIFICATIONS PRIVATE LIMITED shall not certify another certification body for its quality management system. All internal and external personnel must sign conflict-of-interest declarations prior to assignment (Cl. 5.2.13).

Authorized By: Managing Director & Top Management, BONAFIDE CERTIFICATIONS PRIVATE LIMITED Review Cycle: Reviewed annually with the Independent Impartiality Committee (Cl. 5.2.3 & 10.2.5)

ISO/IEC 17021-1 Cl. 8.1.1(c) & IAF MD 17:2023

Management System Schemes & Requested IAF Sector Codes

Exact technical scope matrix aligned with BONAFIDE CERTIFICATIONS PRIVATE LIMITED's IAS Desired Scope of Accreditation application (Form IAS/MSCB/021).

ISO 9001:2015 — Quality Management Systems (QMS)

Normative Criteria: ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015, ISO/IEC 17021-3:2017, IAF MD 1, 2, 4, 5, 11, 12, 17, 23

7 Technical Clusters • 23 IAF Codes

Technical Cluster (IAF MD 17)	IAF Code	Economic Sector / Activity Description (IAF ID 1)	Classification

ISO 14001:2015 — Environmental Management Systems (EMS)

Normative Criteria: ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015, ISO/IEC 17021-2:2016, IAF MD 1, 2, 4, 5, 11, 12, 17, 23

7 Technical Clusters • 16 IAF Codes

Technical Cluster (IAF MD 17)	IAF Code	Economic Sector / Activity Description (IAF ID 1)	Classification

ISO 45001:2018 — Occupational Health & Safety Management Systems

Normative Criteria: ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015, ISO/IEC TS 17021-10:2018, IAF MD 1, 2, 4, 5, 11, 12, 17, 22:2023, 23

8 Technical Clusters • 22 IAF Codes

Mandatory OH&SMS Certification Requirements (IAF MD 22:2023)

1. Legal Compliance Evaluation (Appendix A): While an OH&SMS audit is not a regulatory inspection, Bonafide verifies that the applicant organization has evaluated and demonstrated conformity with applicable OH&S legal requirements prior to granting certification. Deliberate or consistent legal non-compliance precludes certification or results in suspension/withdrawal.

2. Mandatory Worker & Specialist Interviews (Cl. G 9.4.4.2): Audits include mandatory interviews with management legally responsible for OH&S, workers' OH&S representatives, occupational health personnel (doctors/nurses), and permanent/temporary/contractor workers.

3. Immediate Serious Incident Reporting (Cl. G 8.5.3 & G 9.6.4.2): Certified clients are contractually obligated to notify Bonafide without delay of any serious OH&S incident, fatality, or regulatory breach requiring competent authority involvement, triggering a special investigation audit.

Technical Cluster (IAF MD 17)	IAF Code	Economic Sector / Activity Description (IAF ID 1 / MD 22 App. B)	Classification

ISO/IEC 17021-1 Cl. 8.1.1(a), (b) & Cl. 9

Audit & Certification Process, Status Rules & Transfers

Complete lifecycle requirements for initial certification, surveillance, recertification, suspension/withdrawal, multi-site sampling, ICT remote auditing, and accredited certificate transfers.

Three-Year Certification Cycle (ISO/IEC 17021-1 Cl. 9.1 – 9.6)

STEP 1 • CL. 9.1.1 – 9.1.4

Application & Time Calculation

Review of scope, sites, shifts, hazards, and impartiality firewall. Audit time calculated per IAF MD 5 based on effective personnel and risk/complexity (max 30% reduction cap).

STEP 2 • CL. 9.3.1.2

Initial Audit — Stage 1

Review of documented management system, site-specific conditions, statutory/regulatory identification, internal audit & management review readiness for Stage 2.

STEP 3 • CL. 9.3.1.3

Initial Audit — Stage 2

On-site evaluation of implementation, operational controls, KPI monitoring, legal compliance performance, and effectiveness across all applicable clauses.

STEP 4 • CL. 9.5

Independent Decision

Technical review and certification decision made strictly by competent personnel independent of the audit team after verification of major NC closures (within 6 months).

STEP 5 • CL. 9.6.2

Annual Surveillance (Years 1 & 2)

Conducted at least once per calendar year (~1/3 of initial audit time). First surveillance must occur within 12 months of the certification decision date.

STEP 6 • CL. 9.6.3

Recertification (Year 3)

Full-system on-site audit (~2/3 of initial audit time) completed prior to certificate expiry to renew certification for a new 3-year cycle (6-month restoration window post-expiry).

STEP 7 • CL. 9.6.4 & IAS AC477 CL. 5.5

Special, Short-Notice & Witness Audits

Scope extension audits, short-notice/unannounced audits to investigate complaints or serious OH&S incidents, and mandatory accommodation of IAS Accreditation Body witness/unannounced assessments.

Rules for Granting, Refusing, Suspending, Restoring, Withdrawing & Reducing Scope (Cl. 9.6.5)

Granting & Refusing Certification

Certification is granted only when sufficient objective evidence confirms conformity, all major nonconformities are verified closed, and minor NC corrective action plans are accepted. Certification is refused if systemic failure or unresolved major nonconformities persist beyond 6 months.

Suspension & Restoration (Max 6 Months)

Certification is suspended (making the certificate temporarily invalid) if the client persistently fails to meet requirements, refuses mandatory surveillance/recertification or IAS witness access (IAF MD 17 Cl. 2.4.2), or voluntarily requests suspension. Restoration occurs only after verified resolution within 6 months.

Withdrawal & Scope Reduction

Failure to resolve suspension causes within 6 months results in permanent withdrawal of certification or reduction of scope to exclude non-conforming sites/processes. Upon withdrawal, the client must immediately cease all advertising referencing certification (Cl. 8.3.4d).

IAF MD 2:2023

Transfer of Accredited Certification

Only valid certifications covered by an IAF MLA signatory accreditation body are eligible for transfer. Unaccredited or suspended certifications are treated strictly as new clients.
Bonafide conducts an independent Pre-Transfer Review examining previous initial/recertification and surveillance reports, outstanding nonconformities, complaints, and regulatory compliance.
All outstanding major nonconformities must be verified closed prior to issuing a transfer certificate.

IAF MD 1 & IAF MD 4:2025

Multi-Site Sampling & Use of ICT (Remote Auditing)

Multi-Site Sampling (IAF MD 1): Permitted only where sites operate under a centrally controlled management system performing similar activities; restricted for high OH&S risk variance (IAF MD 22 Cl. G 9.1.5).
ICT / Remote Audits (IAF MD 4:2025): Used only upon mutual written agreement ensuring data security and confidentiality. Per IAF MD 5 Cl. 4.5, OH&SMS process and operational risk controls cannot be audited remotely.

ISO/IEC 17021-1 Cl. 8.1.2 • IAF MD 28:2023 • IAS AC477 Cl. 5.3

Certificate Verification Directory & IAF CertSearch

Public verification of certification status, normative standard, scope, and geographical location in accordance with ISO/IEC 17021-1 Clause 8.1.2 and IAF MD 28:2023.

IAF MD 28:2023 & IAS AC477 Clause 5.3 Compliance

Mandatory Global IAF CertSearch Database Integration

Upon grant of IAS accreditation, all accredited management system certifications issued by BONAFIDE CERTIFICATIONS PRIVATE LIMITED are mandatorily uploaded and maintained monthly in the official global IAF CertSearch database (www.iafcertsearch.org) in compliance with IAF MD 28:2023 Cl. 4.2.1 and IAS AC477 Cl. 5.3.3. Certified entities are encouraged to display the IAF CertSearch verification mark in accordance with IAF PL 9.

Confidentiality Exclusions (IAF MD 28 Cl. 6.2)

Where a certified entity holds a documented justification relating to National Security, significant safety risk, or statutory secrecy, public display may be restricted and verified directly via the Confidential Verification Request below.

Certification Status Lookup

Search by Certificate Number or Certified Organization Name (Initial Applicant / Pilot Register)

Certificate ID	Organization Name & Location	Standard	IAF Code	Scope of Certification	Issue / Expiry	Status & Accreditation Note

Direct Verification & Confidential Certificate Enquiry (ISO/IEC 17021-1 Cl. 8.1.2 & IAF MD 28 Cl. 6.4)

Submit an official verification request for certificates subject to confidentiality restrictions or third-party due diligence.

ISO/IEC 17021-1 Cl. 8.1.1(d), (e), 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 9.7 & 9.8

Certification Marks, Client Duties, Confidentiality & Appeals

Mandatory public rules governing use of certification marks, certified client obligations, confidentiality protection, regulatory transition notices, and complaints/appeals resolution.

Rules Governing Reference to Certification & Use of Marks (ISO/IEC 17021-1 Cl. 8.3)

Applicant Status Notice (IAS AC477 Cl. 4.2.3 & 4.2.4): BONAFIDE CERTIFICATIONS PRIVATE LIMITED is currently an applicant for IAS accreditation. Neither Bonafide nor its clients may display the IAS Accreditation Symbol or IAF MLA Mark until formal accreditation is granted by IAS.

No Product or Product Packaging Application (Cl. 8.3.1): Management system certification marks shall never be used on a product, primary product packaging, or in any manner that may be interpreted as denoting product conformity.
Prohibition on Laboratory/Calibration/Inspection Reports (Cl. 8.3.2): Certified clients are strictly prohibited from applying certification marks to laboratory test, calibration, or inspection reports or certificates.
Three-Part Accompanying Statement Rule (Cl. 8.3.3): Any statement on secondary/removable packaging or accompanying literature must never imply product certification and must explicitly state: (1) Identification/name of the certified client, (2) Type of management system and applicable standard (e.g., ISO 9001:2015), and (3) The certification body issuing the certificate (BONAFIDE CERTIFICATIONS PRIVATE LIMITED).
Misuse Enforcement (Cl. 8.3.4 & 8.3.5): Incorrect references or misleading use of certificates/marks will result in mandatory corrective action, suspension, withdrawal of certification, public notice of transgression, and/or legal action.

ISO/IEC 17021-1 Cl. 9.1.1 • IAF MD 5 • IAF MD 22 Cl. G 9.1.1

Certification Audit Application & Quotation Request

Complete the pre-certification application form below so our technical review team can verify impartiality, determine audit time per IAF MD 5, and assign a competent audit team.

1. Applicant Organization Details (ISO/IEC 17021-1 Cl. 9.1.1b)

Legal Name of Applicant Organization *

Authorized Representative & Designation *

Official Email Address *

Contact Phone Number *

Site Address(es) in India & Temporary Sites (If applicable) *

2. Requested Standards, Scope & Effective Personnel (Cl. 9.1.1a, d & IAF MD 5)

Select Management System Standard(s) *

ISO 9001:2015 (QMS) ISO 14001:2015 (EMS) ISO 45001:2018 (OH&SMS) Integrated MS (IMS)

Effective Number of Personnel (Permanent, Part-Time, Shifts & Contractors) *

Audit Type *

Desired Scope of Certification & Outsourced Processes (Cl. 9.1.1a, c) *

OH&S Key Hazards, Hazardous Materials & Offsite Workers (Required for ISO 45001 per IAF MD 22 Cl. G 9.1.1)

3. Mandatory Impartiality Screening Declaration (ISO/IEC 17021-1 Cl. 9.1.1e & Cl. 5.2.7)

Has your organization received management system consultancy or internal audit services relating to the management system(s) to be certified within the past two (2) years? If yes, please specify the name of the consultancy organization/individual.

All information submitted is protected under ISO/IEC 17021-1 Cl. 8.4 Confidentiality.