Independence of the PFI certification body reconfirmed

On 22 October 2025, the Committee for Ensuring Impartiality (ASU) of the Certification and Prequalification Body at the Pirmasens Testing and Research Institute (PFI) met. The aim of the committee is to ensure the annual independence and objectivity of the PFI's certification and prequalification body – one of the key prerequisites for the credibility and reliability of all certificates awarded.

The committee is formed by external, independent members who also come from different interest groups. This diversity ensures a balanced and independent assessment of the work carried out by the PFI certification body.

After thoroughly reviewing the processes, structures and decisions pursued by the PFI certification body over the past twelve months, the committee members unanimously confirmed its impartiality with regard to certification and prequalification services. The committee thus once again certified that the PFI certification body performs its tasks without commercial, financial or organisational influence.

The meeting had a comprehensive agenda: in addition to introducing new members – including Ms Sabrina Müller from the Ministry of Economics, Transport, Agriculture and Viticulture in Mainz – the focus was on electing the committee chair, training on processes in the areas of management systems, prequalification and personal protective equipment, and reports on current developments. These included certifications according to the standards DIN EN ISO 9001, 14001, 13485, 50001 and ISO/IEC 27001, the awarding of PFI seals and certifications according to the ETI social standard.

With the unanimous confirmation of impartiality, the committee once again underlines the high degree of transparency, integrity and professionalism with which the PFI also performs its certification and prequalification tasks.