This Guide specifies general requirements for a third-party body operating quality system certification/registration to meet if it is to be recognized as competent and reliable in the operation of quality system certification/ registration.NOTE 1 In some countries, the bodies which verify conformity of quality systems to specified standards are called "certification bodies", in others registration bodies", in others "assessment and registration bodies" or certification/registration bodies, and in still others registrars. For ease of understanding, this Guide always refers to such bodies as "certification/ registration bodies". This should not be understood to be limiting.The requirements contained in this Guide are written, above all, to be considered as general requirements for any body operating certification/ registration of quality systems.