1. Purpose

To ensure that all personnel certification activities are conducted in a fair, impartial, confidential, and transparent manner, in compliance with ISO/IEC 17024 requirements.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all applicants, candidates, certified persons, examiners, committee members, and staff involved in certification schemes managed by RG.

3. Policy Statement

• Certification decisions are based solely on objective evidence obtained through valid and reliable assessment methods.
• All personnel involved in certification must sign an Impartiality & Confidentiality Agreement.
• Any conflict of interest must be disclosed, documented, and managed appropriately.
• Confidentiality of candidate records and certification data is maintained at all times.
• RG does not allow commercial, financial, or external pressures to compromise impartiality.

4. Impartiality Management

• Independent Impartiality Committee oversees impartiality risks and advises top management.
• Separation of Functions: Certification decisions are made by individuals independent of training or assessment roles.
• Annual Risk Review: Potential threats to impartiality are identified, recorded in the Risk Register, and mitigated.
• Personnel Obligations: All staff must disclose conflicts of interest annually and immediately report emerging risks.

5. Confidentiality

• Candidate records, examination results, and certification decisions are treated as confidential information.
• Access to records is restricted to authorized personnel only.
• External disclosure of certification information is permitted only with candidate consent or as required by law.

6. Certification Process Integrity

• Certification decisions (granting, maintaining, renewing, suspending, withdrawing) are made by the Certification Decisions Committee, based on documented evidence.
• Appeals and complaints are handled through a documented, impartial process, ensuring no discrimination against appellants.
• Misuse of certificates, logos, or marks is addressed through corrective measures, including warnings, suspension, or withdrawal.

7. Continuous Improvement

• This policy is reviewed annually by top management and the impartiality committee.
• Improvements are incorporated into the management system to ensure ongoing compliance with ISO/IEC 17024.