Does ISO perform both accreditation and certification activities?

ISO, or the International Organization for Standardization, primarily develops and publishes international standards, but it does not engage in accreditation or certification activities itself. Instead, ISO standards provide a framework that organizations can use to achieve certification from third-party certification bodies, which are independent entities that assess compliance against the specific standards.

Accreditation refers to the recognition given to certification bodies that demonstrate their competence to carry out certification in specific areas, including ISO standards. This process ensures that the certification body operates in accordance with international standards and has the necessary expertise to perform evaluations impartially and consistently.

The correct understanding is that while ISO establishes the standards that guide accreditation and certification, it does not perform these activities directly. Thus, the answer indicating that ISO only engages in certification activities is inaccurate, as ISO's role does not involve either activity directly. The functions of accreditation and certification are essential in the landscape of standards but are handled by separate organizations that meet ISO requirements.