Impartiality Policy

IMPARTIALITY POLICY STATEMENT

 

Impartiality is the basis for the acquisition and maintaining confidence in the system of accreditation that interested parties expect. Therefore, to ensure impartiality is a high priority at all levels of functioning within the ATS.

Following the established rules, ATS ensures that all personnel involved in the accreditation objectively performs activities without any commercial, financial and other pressures that could jeopardize impartiality.

ATS is not engaged in activities that could compromise its impartiality. It does not provide consulting services for conformity assessment bodies, nor does it provide services conformity assessment bodies do. Also, it is not associated in any way with the organizations providing consulting services for conformity assessment bodies, nor does it promote the operation of these bodies.

ATS organizes seminars for conformity assessment bodies. Those seminars are intended to provide a general background on accreditation which can be accessed freely in the public domain. Additionally, if the opportunity presents itself, the preference of ATS is to participate in international projects aiming to advise other accreditation bodies on the development of new accreditation schemes or the development of the accreditation process.

ATS participates in the operation of groups aiming to advise owners of schemes on accreditation requirements,  the requirements under the relevant standards for conformity assessment.

ATS ensures that all the conformity assessment bodies are treated identically in the accreditation process, without any discrimination or limitations in respect of size, legal status, the number of conformity assessment bodies that has already been accredited or membership in any association or group.

The  ATS employees, individuals from ATS organs and expert bodies, assessors, as well as persons contractually engaged to perform certain tasks on behalf of ATS  are required to report any potential conflict of interest.  The information has been managed to ensure the objectivity of services provided. Furthermore, the decisions on accreditation are made by the persons who hadn’t been involved in the assessment of conformity assessment bodies whose accreditation is decided on.

ATS values potential risks to impartiality by using several mechanisms, including consultation with relevant interested parties. If such risks are identified, ATS will take adequate measures to eliminate or reduce them to a minimum. Any remaining risks are reviewed to determine whether it is on the level of acceptable risk. In case the risk to impartiality is identified as unacceptable, accreditation will not be granted.

Hence, maintaining the impartiality is ATS primary orientation.