The 2011 revision of ISO/IEC 17021 is released. ISO/IEC 17021:2011 sets forth the management principles for entities and bodies providing regulatory affairs based management system activities. This version outlines new requirements for third-party assessment and the competence of personnel conducting these activities. Further, this version is closer to the GOB principles and operating practices in managing and deploying assessment activities.

Transition needs to occur by January 2013. The GOB will verify transition-implementation during surveillance | monitoring activities. We advice that by December 2012 transition occurs as this provides time to address any action request. Upon request to GOB bearers, we provide an ISO/IEC 17021:2011 matrix-table for transition.