ISO 17050 – Meaning, Requirements & Benefits of the Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity (SDoC)
The international ISO 17050 standard plays a central role in the quality and compliance management of modern companies. Although it is often less known than standards such as ISO 9001 or ISO 14001, it is essential for manufacturers, traders and suppliers – especially when products are to be placed on the market without complex certification by external bodies.
What ISO 17050 is, how it is structured, which requirements it sets and why it is of great importance to companies in all industries is explained in detail here.
What is ISO 17050?
The ISO/IEC 17050 standard bears the full title “Conformity assessment — Supplier’s declaration of conformity (SDoC)” and consists of two parts:
- ISO/IEC 17050-1 – General requirements for the supplier’s declaration
- ISO/IEC 17050-2 – Requirements for supporting documentation
The standard defines how a manufacturer or supplier proves by means of a self-declaration or supplier’s declaration that a product, process or service meets the applicable legal, normative or contractual requirements – completely without an external certification body.
Purpose of ISO 17050 – why can the standard become very important?
The standard was developed to:
- strengthen the responsibility of companies in demonstrating conformity,
- facilitate market access, especially for low-risk products,
- reduce bureaucracy and certification costs,
- ensure a uniform and transparent structure for supplier declarations.
A Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) is a written declaration by a company confirming that a product or service meets all relevant standards and regulations.
It is frequently used in areas such as:
- Electronics & Electrical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Consumer Goods Industry
- Medical Technology (for non-critical products)
- Retail and Private Label
- Model number, serial number
- Product description
- Intended use
- Name, address, contact
- Responsible person
- technical standards (e.g. EN, ISO, IEC)
- legal requirements
- internal specifications
- A statement clearly confirming that all requirements have been met.
- Responsible person in the company, possibly digitally signed.
- Test reports
- Internal quality records
- Risk analyses
- Technical product documentation
- Manufacturing records
- 1. Cost savings
- 2. Faster market entry
- 3. Increased flexibility
- 4. Greater transparency and trust
- 5. Ideal for low-risk products
...in short, in many industries where there is no legal (e.g. pharmaceuticals) or market-regulatory (e.g. automotive) obligation for certification.
In the EU, it is comparable to the EC/EU Declaration of Conformity for CE-marked products.
Structure and Requirements of ISO 17050-1
ISO/IEC 17050-1 specifies how a Declaration of Conformity must be structured. Important components include:
1. Identification of the Product / Service
2. Identification of the Supplier
3. Listed Standards & Requirements
4. Declaration of Conformity
5. Date, Place, Signature
ISO 17050-2: Supporting Documentation
Part 2 describes which documents must support the declaration, such as:
These documents must be made available to authorities or business partners upon request.
When may ISO 17050 be used?
ISO 17050 may generally be used whenever the legal framework or the specific application area of a product allows the use of a self-issued declaration of conformity. This means that the manufacturer or supplier may confirm that their product, process or service meets all relevant requirements without needing to involve an external certification body. In many industries, this is common practice because the self-declaration significantly simplifies and accelerates market entry.
ISO 17050 is particularly common in sectors where products present a low or moderate risk to consumers and users. This includes, for example, simple electrical devices, consumer goods, tools, software products or standardized machine components. In retail – such as with private-label products – the Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity is also a proven instrument for documenting legal compliance while reducing bureaucratic effort.
However, there are clear limits. ISO 17050 may not be applied when the applicable law requires mandatory assessment by an independent accredited body. This is often the case with safety-critical products – such as higher-class medical devices, explosion-proof machinery, complex lift systems, pressure equipment or certain personal protective equipment. In such cases, a self-declaration is insufficient because the legislator wants to ensure that safety and functionality are independently verified.
In summary: ISO 17050 may be applied when the regulatory framework allows self-declarations, when the product risk is manageable, and when the manufacturer is capable of conducting and documenting all tests and technical evidence internally. Companies that meet these requirements gain a highly flexible and efficient way to legally prove conformity.
Advantages of ISO 17050 – Detailed Explanation
The implementation and use of ISO 17050 offer companies a wide range of benefits extending far beyond simple time or cost savings. One of the most significant advantages is the clear reduction of certification costs, since external testing bodies often charge high fees and require extensive certification procedures. For many companies, the Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity is therefore a highly economical alternative that does not compromise legal certainty when applied correctly.
Another key benefit is the significant acceleration of market entry. Because no external body needs to be involved, the lengthy review processes that can take weeks or months are eliminated. Manufacturers can bring products to market much faster, which is a crucial competitive advantage, especially in dynamic industries with short innovation cycles. This agility is particularly valuable in international trade, where different markets may have different certification requirements.
Furthermore, ISO 17050 creates transparency and trust. A properly formulated and norm-compliant supplier declaration demonstrates to customers, business partners and authorities that a company takes its responsibility seriously and has a functioning quality and compliance system. Thanks to the uniform structure of the standard, the declaration appears professional and comprehensible – strengthening credibility and facilitating cooperation with global partners.
Another advantage lies in the high degree of flexibility. Companies can independently create, update and expand conformity documentation without being bound to fixed cycles or external assessment intervals. This is particularly useful when products are frequently modified, further developed or offered in various versions. Internal control also makes it easier to respond quickly to new legal requirements and to minimize compliance risks early on.
Finally, ISO 17050 promotes accountability and process reliability within a company. Since all relevant evidence must be produced internally, this automatically leads to improved documentation practices, clearer responsibilities and a stronger focus on quality. Thus, the standard not only contributes to external compliance, but also strengthens internal organizational structures in a sustainable way.
Summary of the Benefits of a Declaration of Conformity
PeRoBa Quality Management from Munich – Individual Quality Management and ISO 17050 Consulting
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