Product certification body refers the third-party certification performed by legally registered organization and operates in accordance with international standards (such as ISO, IEC, etc.), national standards, domestic laws and regulations, or standards/regulations set by international professional organizations, on the product specifications, functions, features, etc. to ensure the product conformity.

Product certification body can apply to TAF for accreditation based on management needs or required by the laws and regulations (such as mandatory regulations). Product certification body can be government agencies, private companies, or organizations (guilds, societies, or associations), etc. Under special conditions (such as the applicable scope of specific accreditation program), foreign organization can apply for product certification body accreditation.

The objects of certification of product certification body can be products, specific process, or intangible service.

Notes:

1. TAF provides accreditation, but not certification. That is, TAF does not issue the product certificate of compliance.
2. The certification services provided by the product certification body must be of the nature of third-party service.
3. The operation of product certification body must comply with relevant domestic laws and regulations.

The accreditation classification of Product certification body is divided into two parts based on the characteristics of the products to be certified: industrial products and agricultural products. The TAF accreditation scheme for product certification body is based on the ISO/IEC 17065 and the certification scheme of product. Through document review, assessment and constant monitoring, TAF ensures that the product certification body meets the certification requirements in providing reliable product certification in the market.

TAF provides third-party accreditation services in accordance with the ISO/IEC 17011 and the principles of "impartiality", "independence", and "transparency."

TAF is a member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC) and has joined the Multilateral/Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MLA/ MRA).

TAF is in close cooperation with government agencies in providing accreditation services. The accreditation results have been widely recognized and used by government agencies or private enterprises, such as the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection of MOEA, National Communications Commission (NCC), and the Council of Agriculture (COA) of the Executive Yuan.

TAF-accredited product certification body enjoys the following benefits:

• Proved and manifested compliance with international standards and/or domestic laws and regulations
• Manifestation of independence, impartiality and consistency in its operations
• Recognition of the certification and results by domestic and foreign government agencies and markets
• International recognition of documents issued, such as certificate, as TAF has entered into multilateral/mutual recognition arrangement with APAC and IAF

Product certified by TAF-accredited product certification body enjoys the following benefits:

• Proved and manifested compliance with specific requirements of products
• Compliance with specific regulatory requirements (such as mandatory requirements for products to be certified before marketing.)
• International recognition of documents issued, such as certificate of certification, to save the time and cost of repeated certification, as TAF has entered into multilateral/mutual recognition arrangement with APAC and IAF

The basis of accreditation of the product certification body comprises of ISO standards, IAF resolutions and its mandatory documents, government regulations, etc., as well as various operating regulations set by TAF, such as manuals, accreditation programs, accreditation notifications, etc.

For the regulatory documents of product certification body, please refer to the "List of Accreditation Criteria (TAF-AA-W07)".

The " Product Certification Body Accreditation Service Manual (TAF-PC-M01)" is the basic document governing the product certification body. TAF also formulates specific accreditation programs to meet the special features of the product certification schemes or the needs of government agencies or regulatory requirements. TAF now has the following accreditation programs:

Note: The updated information of accreditation programs can be obtained from the TAF website.

• The Accreditation Service Program for Certification Bodies in the Mutual Recognition Arrangement of the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) of MOEA and the Foreign Institutions (TAF-PC-M02)
  TAF has launched the program to facilitate the implementation of the product certification mutual recognition arrangement signed by the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection of MOEA with the government agencies of New Zealand, Singapore and other countries.
• The Accreditation Service Program for Traceable Agricultural Product Certification Bodies (TAF-PC-M03)
  TAF assists the Council of Agriculture of the Executive Yuan in promulgation of the "Agricultural Production and Certification Act” and has launched this accreditation program to facilitate the promotion of the accreditation and certification system for traceable agricultural products based on the "Regulations for Approving and Inspecting Recognized Agricultural Product Accreditation Bodies".
• The Accreditation Service Program  for Organic Agricultural Product Certification Bodies (TAF-PC-M04)
  TAF assists the Council of Agriculture of the Executive Yuan in promulgation of the "Organic Agriculture Promotion Act” and has launched this accreditation program to facilitate the promotion of the accreditation and certification system of organic agricultural products based on the "Regulations for Approving and Supervising Organic Agricultural Product Accreditation Bodies."
• The Accreditation Service Program for the Taiwan Quality Food Certification Scheme (TAF-PC-M05)
  TAF has launched this accreditation program to facilitate and promote the "Taiwan Quality Food Certification Scheme” in collaboration with the Taiwan Quality Food Foundation.
• The Accreditation Service Program for the Global Good Agricultural Practices (GLOBALG.AP) (TAF-PC-M06)
  TAF has launched this accreditation program to facilitate and promote the Global Good Agricultural Practices (GLOBALG.AP) in collaboration with GLOBALG.A.P. c/o FoodPlus GmbH.
• The Accreditation Service Program for the Offshore Wind Farm Certification Scheme (TAF-PC-M07)
  TAF assists the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection of MOEA in promulgation of the “Directions for Demonstration and Guidance on Reviewing the Certification of Offshore Wind Farm Projects”, and has launched this program to facilitate and promote the accreditation and certification system for the offshore wind farms.
• The Accreditation Service Program for the Product Certification Schemes of the Textile Exchange (TAF-PC-M08)
  TAF has launched the program to facilitate and promote the accreditation and certification system for the recycling content and the declaration of content of textile products in collaboration with the Textile Exchange (TE).
• The Accreditation Service Program for the ISASecure® Certification Scheme in the Industrial Automation and Control System Information Security (TAF-PC-M09)
  TAF has launched the program to facilitate and promote the accreditation and certification system for the industrial control system information security in collaboration with the ISA Security Compliance Institute (ISCI) of the International Society of Automation (ISA).

For the item coding of the product certification body, please refer to the " Instruction for Accreditation Item Codes (TAF-AA-W08)". Please contact TAF if appropriate item codes cannot be found.