This document specifies principles and gives guidance for developing normative documents that contain:

specified requirements for the object of conformity assessment;
specific methods and procedures for an individual conformity assessment activity (e.g. test methods);
rules and methodology for conformity assessment (as part of conformity assessment schemes, including provisions for organizations that perform conformity assessment activities).

This document is intended for the following users:

standards developers;
regulatory authorities;
conformity assessment scheme owners;
industry associations and consortia;
conformity assessment bodies;
accreditation bodies;
purchasers;
consumers and non-governmental groups;
other interested parties, e.g. insurance organizations.