ISEAL Alliance Code of Ethics
Standard-setting
ISEAL members involved in standard-setting are committed to the development and implementation of credible and effective social and environmental standards.
These standards:
- include social and environmental criteria that require performance above and beyond basic legal requirements;
- require continuous improvement;
- only include criteria that contribute to the achievement of clearly stated objectives;
- take into account the local economic, social and environmental conditions where the standard is applied; and
- are freely available to all interested stakeholders.
ISEAL members involved in standard-setting are committed to transparent and inclusive standard-setting processes.
Credible standard-setting processes:
- are open to all interested stakeholders;
- have transparent and accessible mechanisms to encourage stakeholder input;
- strive for consensus decision-making among a balance of interested parties; and
- include impartial and consistent complaints resolution mechanisms.
Conformity Assessment
ISEAL members that offer certification or accreditation services are committed to carrying out credible and accessible conformity assessment.
Organisations that deliver conformity assessment:
- comply with relevant international standards for conformity assessment (ISO/IEC 17011 for accreditation and ISO Guides 62 or 65 for certification);
- apply a policy of open and non-discriminatory participation in their programs, according to their scopes;
- meaningfully consider the input of all material stakeholders in the assessment process;
- apply procedures that are no more onerous than necessary to establish trust in the outcomes;
- support and implement measures to reduce barriers to access to conformity assessment;
- promote mutual recognition of conformity assessment results; and
- participate in efforts to harmonize procedures with other conformity assessment organisations.
Business Conduct
ISEAL members are committed to work together to achieve the vision and mission of the ISEAL Alliance.
ISEAL members:
- share information about their programs and procedures with other ISEAL members;
- engage in collaborative activities and discussions that are relevant to their work, under the auspices of the ISEAL Alliance;
- strive to mitigate all potential conflicts of interest in their work, as they arise;
- actively engage with other ISEAL members to reach a common understanding on areas of potential conflict or overlap;
- refrain from making false or misleading statements about the work of other ISEAL members;
- do not engage in work elsewhere that contradicts this Code of Ethics; and
- do not make false statements about the ISEAL Alliance or the nature of their membership in ISEAL.
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