Linking ISO accreditation and assurance through ASI’s two-tier model

A test result produced in one country may ultimately guide a decision in another. An inspection report or a certification decision can travel far beyond the place where it was issued. For regulators, businesses, and consumers to rely on those results, they need confidence in the organizations that produced them.

Accreditation provides that confidence. It is a formal way of confirming that a Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) has the competence and independence required to carry out its work.

As defined in ISO/IEC 17000, accreditation is a third-party attestation that demonstrates whether a CAB is competent, impartial, and consistent in operation.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) develops the standards, but accreditation is carried out by national or regional accreditation bodies. They recognize each other’s work through international arrangements now unified under the Global Accreditation Cooperation Inc. (GACI), formed in 2026 from the merger of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). Because they operate within a common framework, accredited results can be relied upon across borders without duplication.

Yet this is just part of the story.

Accreditation in voluntary sustainability schemes

Many of today’s most influential sustainability and responsible sourcing initiatives, such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), operate in the voluntary space. These schemes often aim to go beyond regulatory compliance and respond to evolving expectations for environmental and social responsibility.

In this context, accreditation alone is often necessary but not sufficient. Voluntary schemes may rely on ISO-based accreditation systems, operate their own accreditation models, or add additional oversight layers to address evolving risks and expectations. It is within this space that ASI operates.

ISO/IEC 17065 accreditation

ASI provides accreditation to ISO/IEC 17065, the international standard for organizations certifying products, processes, and services.

ISO/IEC 17065 is widely used by sustainability and responsible sourcing schemes, including forestry, fisheries, agriculture, carbon, and other environmental and social programs. Accreditation to this standard shows that a CAB works competently, impartially, and in a consistent manner.

The Two-Tier Assurance Program – a combination of accreditation and assurance

A key part of ASI’s approach is the Two-Tier Assurance Program (TTAP). The model was developed in response to European Regulation (EC) No. 765/2008, which nationalized accreditation within the European Union, as well as a broader recognition that accreditation alone does not always address emerging integrity risks.

Under TTAP, accreditation plus assurance services is structured into two layers:

• Tier one is formal accreditation. CABs are accredited against ISO/IEC 17065 by a recognized accreditation body. In North America and for certification bodies outside Europe, this role is carried out by ASI in North America. In Europe, accreditation is delivered by National Accreditation Bodies participating in TTAP, with ASI’s involvement forming a mandatory part of the process.
• Tier two is complementary assurance services provided by ASI. These include an enhanced risk-based approach, rapid response mechanisms and a suite of assessment solutions such as onsite and offsite, both announced and unannounced, from witnessing a CAB audit to desk reviews towards compliance assessments to ensure Scheme Owner’s requirements are met. It acts as a final oversight layer that validates that accreditation can be granted, maintained, or denied.

In 2019, ASI entered into a formal agreement with the German national accreditation body, DAkkS, to integrate accreditation and assurance through a structured, stepwise process. Building on this foundation, ASI established an accreditation body in North America for Conformity Assessment Bodies with accredited offices outside the European Economic Area and the UK. ASI in North America is currently overseeing 78 CABs with over 82,000 certificates in 130 countries under 5 standard systems.

Bridging regulatory and voluntary systems

Sustainability and responsible business conduct are no longer driven only by voluntary commitments. Governments are increasingly introducing regulations related to due diligence, deforestation-free supply chains, carbon markets, green claims, and anti-greenwashing measures.

In Europe, initiatives such as the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, the EU Deforestation Regulation, and the EU Empowering Consumers Directive are reshaping expectations around assurance and credibility. In North America, updated Federal Trade Commission’s Green Guides in the United States and new climate disclosure requirements at the state and federal levels are increasing scrutiny of sustainability claims.

At the same time, voluntary standards continue to play a critical role in innovation and market access.

The TTAP is designed to bridge these worlds.

Learn more about accreditation on this page or contact us for a conversation.