1.1 This document contains general principles and requirements for the competence, consistent operation and impartiality of bodies providing validation/verification as conformity assessment. 1.2 Bodies operating according to this document can be first party, second party as well as third party bodies. Bodies can be validation bodies only, verification bodies only, or provide both activities. 1.3 This document is applicable to validation/verification bodies in any sector, providing confirmation that claims are either plausible with regards to the intended purpose (validation) or correctly stated (verification). However, statements of conformity themselves, issued as result of another conformity assessment activity (e.g. testing, inspection and certification), are not considered to be subject to validation/verification according to this document. 1.4 This document is applicable to any sector, in conjunction with sector specific programmes that contain requirements for validation or verification processes and procedures. 1.5 This document can be used as a basis for accreditation by accreditation bodies, peer assessment within peer assessment groups, or other forms of recognition of validation/verification bodies by international or regional organizations, governments, regulatory authorities, programme owners, industry bodies, companies, clients or consumers. NOTE This document contains generic requirements and is neutral with regard to the operated validation or verification programme. Requirements of the applicable programmes are additional to the requirements of this document.