The body must run a management system under Option A or Option B that can consistently meet the standard, and must be able to show which option it uses.
What applies today
The body must establish and maintain a management system capable of consistently fulfilling the requirements of the standard under either Option A or Option B. Under Option A the system must cover general documentation, control of documents, control of records, management review, internal audit, corrective actions and preventive actions. Under Option B, a body that has a management system meeting ISO 9001 and capable of supporting and demonstrating consistent fulfilment of this standard meets the management system clauses. Option B does not require the system to be certified to ISO 9001.
Why it matters
The two options exist because many certification bodies already run an ISO 9001 system. Option B lets them use it, but only if it actually supports the 17065 requirements. The choice is not a label on a certificate. The assessor will test the system that is claimed, and a body that says Option B while holding no evidence of the ISO 9001 scope has a gap. Option A remains the route for a body without an ISO 9001 system.
The public FDIS contents lists clause 8.1 as Options. This site uses the shorter label Management system options for the page. The FDIS requirement wording is not held, so the requirement above is the 2012 text that applies until publication.
Where this clause lands in the revision
Clause 8 is where the 8.8 replacement meets management review, internal audit and corrective action. The public record confirms the titles; the requirement wording is not held. A first artefact an assessor commonly asks for here is documented choice of option a or b with the reason. The party this touches first is Top management, which chooses the option, and the management system owner.
What the assessor asks for
| Category | Artefact to have ready |
|---|---|
| Option decision | Documented choice of Option A or B with the reason |
| Mapping | Map from the chosen system to clauses 8.2 to 8.8 |
| Option B evidence | ISO 9001 certificate, scope and support for the 17065 requirements |
| Option A evidence | Procedures and records for each clause in 8.2 to 8.8 |
One common question. ask which option the body uses and then test the evidence for it. A body that claims Option B but cannot show the ISO 9001 scope is in difficulty.
Common failures
- The manual says Option A while the body actually follows ISO 9001
- Option B is claimed without an ISO 9001 certificate or a mapping
- The mapping is a copy of the standard's contents page
Prepare before publication
Write the option decision and the mapping in one document. Give it to the assessor at the opening meeting.
Dates that matter
The public record gives stage 50.20 on 4 August 2026 and voting to 27 October 2026. The planning date, 15 February 2027, is an estimate from that stage and not an ISO date, and clause 8.1 has no separate date.
Cross-references
8.2 General management system documentation · 8.3 Control of documents · 8.4 Control of records · 8.5 Management review · 8.6 Internal audits · 8.7 Corrective actions · 8.8 Actions to address risks and opportunities (FDIS change)
Source
Source for 8.1: ISO/IEC 17065:2012, Clause 8.1, with the ISO/IEC FDIS 17065 public record. Our statement, not the instrument verbatim; the FDIS wording is not held.
Not legal advice; does not certify. A reading of the requirement and the evidence an assessor commonly samples, not a substitute for the standard or your accreditation body's rules.