ISO/IEC Guide 53:2005 outlines a general approach by which certification bodies can develop and apply product certification schemes utilizing requirements of an organization's quality management system. The provisions given are not requirements for the accreditation of a product certification body and do not substitute the requirements of ISO/IEC Guide 65.

The schemes contained in ISO/IEC Guide 53:2005 are for product certification only and in all cases involve the following principles:

-- assessment of an organization's quality management system and its capability to consistently supply products conforming to specified requirements;

-- testing, inspection or comparable verification of the product's conformity to scheme criteria and specified requirements;

-- application of a suitable surveillance scheme to ensure continual conformity to specified requirements of products supplied by the organization;

-- control of the mark of conformity and/or logo of the certification body.