ISO/IEC 17065 sets requirements for certification bodies. Accreditation can confirm a body's competence for a defined scope against this standard. It is therefore more accurate to refer to accreditation against ISO/IEC 17065 than to a certification body's “ISO 17065 certificate”.
Is ISO/IEC 17065 a certificate awarded to a certification body?
That is an inaccurate simplification. ISO/IEC 17065 specifies requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services. In practice, a body's competence for a defined scope may be confirmed through accreditation by a national accreditation body. It is therefore more accurate to refer to accreditation against ISO/IEC 17065 than to the body's “ISO 17065 certificate”.
1. ISO/IEC 17065 concerns product, process and service certification
The standard covers requirements for organisations performing this type of conformity assessment. In systems such as RecyClass, the object of certification may be a recycling process or a traceability system within a specified scope.
The standard does not set RecyClass technical requirements for PCR, reconciliation or recycling. It defines how a credible certification body should operate.
2. Impartiality is a fundamental principle
The client pays for certification, but the outcome must not depend on its commercial importance. The body must identify and manage threats to impartiality.
An auditor should therefore not design the client's system and then assess it, and the certification decision should be protected from conflicts of interest.
3. Personnel competence must match the assigned tasks
The body should define requirements for auditors, reviewers and decision-makers, maintain competence records and provide appropriate training and monitoring.
RecyClass adds the scheme owner's requirements for recognising auditors and certification bodies.
4. Evaluation, review and decision are distinct functions
ISO/IEC 17065 establishes a model in which evaluation evidence is reviewed and the certification decision follows from the process outcome.
In practice, this helps prevent an auditor from issuing a formal document based solely on their own findings without independent scrutiny.
5. Confidentiality does not mean an opaque process
The body must protect information obtained from the client while clearly communicating the certification scope, certificate status and required public information in accordance with the scheme.
Confidential formulations or commercial information should not be disclosed without a valid basis. The existence and scope of a certificate may, however, be subject to the scheme's disclosure rules.
6. Complaints and appeals are part of the system
A credible body should have procedures for handling complaints and appeals. Clients can challenge a decision or the way the process was conducted through the prescribed mechanism.
The existence of a procedure does not automatically change a decision. An appeal is considered against requirements and evidence through an impartial process.
7. Certification follows a defined scheme
ISO/IEC 17065 does not replace the certification scheme. The scheme specifies technical requirements, scope, assessment methods, surveillance frequency, documents and rules for issuing certificates.
The body therefore applies the accreditation standard, the RecyClass programme and its own management system together.
8. Accreditation has a defined scope
Holding accreditation does not mean that every service offered by the body is accredited. Check the current scope to see which programmes or activities are covered.
This is why the accreditation number alone does not provide the full answer.
9. The standard's status in 2026 requires attention
The Polish source was reviewed on 24 September 2026. The ISO catalogue checked on 5 October 2026 still identifies ISO/IEC 17065:2012 as the published, current edition, while the second edition is at the Final Draft International Standard (FDIS) stage.
A draft future edition should not be presented as an already published standard. Following publication of a replacement, check the transition arrangements specified by the applicable accreditation system.
10. PN-EN ISO/IEC 17065 is the Polish adoption
Almaland's PCA documents identify PN-EN ISO/IEC 17065:2013-03 as the basis for AC 246 accreditation. The year in the national designation can differ from the international ISO/IEC 17065:2012 publication year.
This reflects adoption into the PN-EN system rather than a contradiction.
11. What clients should check when selecting a body
Check the scheme owner, the body's recognition, whether the programme is included in its current accreditation scope, geographical coverage and the availability of an auditor with the required competence.
This provides a more precise assessment than asking whether the body “has ISO”.
FAQ
Does ISO certify certification bodies?
No. ISO develops standards but does not perform certification or accreditation. In Poland, accreditation is granted by PCA.
Does ISO/IEC 17065 mean every service is accredited?
No. The current scope of accreditation determines which activities are covered.
Does ISO/IEC 17065 contain RecyClass technical requirements?
No. These are set out in RecyClass documentation. The standard describes requirements for the body performing certification.
Has the second edition already replaced ISO/IEC 17065:2012 in 2026?
The ISO catalogue checked on 5 October 2026 still lists the second edition as an FDIS under development. ISO/IEC 17065:2012 remains the published edition.
Is “Almaland has an ISO 17065 certificate” accurate?
More precisely, Almaland holds PCA accreditation AC 246 against PN-EN ISO/IEC 17065:2013-03 for the scope defined by PCA.
Useful documents
Almaland Documents includes the PCA certificate, accreditation scope and Quality and Impartiality Policy. The complaints and appeals procedure is available on request.