ISO/IEC 17020:2012
Conformity assessment — Requirements for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection
ISO/IEC 17020:2012 specifies requirements for the competence of bodies performing inspection and for the impartiality and consistency of their inspection activities.
It applies to inspection bodies of type A, B or C, as defined in ISO/IEC 17020:2012, and it applies to any stage of inspection.
Type A bodies provide third party services;
Type B bodies are separate and identifiable entities, and can only provide inspections to its parent company.
Type C bodies are identifiable entities but may not be a separate part of the organisation.