Impartiality Statement

SITMA, as an independent entity, operates its certification scheme with impartiality, recognising the significance of such an approach. The scheme is managed by a Scheme Manager, who is a full-time employee and a voting member of the scheme committee, also known as the Board of Directors. This committee, characterised by its impartiality and diversity, comprises a balanced representation of stakeholders, including some with no direct involvement in the testing process.
All employees, whether directly employed or subcontracted, are bound by contracts or forms that ensure impartiality and confidentiality. They are obligated to disclose any actual or perceived conflicts of interest. When agreeing to serve as a director, members of the scheme committee consent to the terms of reference outlined in ‘QMS014 – Board of Directors Terms of Reference’.
SITMA maintains a risk register, reviewed annually, to identify potential threats to its impartiality. SITMA retains full responsibility for all decisions related to the certification of individuals. This includes granting, maintaining, recertifying, expanding, or reducing the scope of certification, and suspending or withdrawing certification. These decisions are not delegated to any third party. This statement of impartiality aligns with Section 4.3.1 of ISO/IEC 17024:2012 and underscores SITMA’s commitment to impartiality in its operations.