Accredited vs non-accredited ISO certification: what Amazon suppliers need to know

If you supply goods or services via Amazon, you may have seen requests that specify “accredited” ISO certification rather than simply “ISO certified”.

This distinction is often misunderstood and getting it wrong can result in wasted time, unnecessary cost, and certificates that are not accepted.

This article explains the difference between accredited and non-accredited ISO certification, and why it matters for Amazon suppliers.

What is ISO certification?

ISO standards (such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO/IEC 27001) set out requirements for how organisations manage specific aspects of their business.

ISO itself does not certify organisations. Certification is carried out by independent certification bodies that audit an organisation’s management system against the requirements of the relevant standard.

What does “accredited” certification mean?

Accredited certification means that the certification body issuing the certificate is itself independently assessed and overseen by a recognised accreditation body.

In the UK, this role is carried out by UKAS (the United Kingdom Accreditation Service).

Accreditation provides assurance that:

• audits are carried out competently,

• certification decisions are impartial,

• certificates are issued in line with international rules,

• certification bodies are subject to ongoing oversight.

What is non-accredited certification?

Non-accredited certification is issued by organisations that are not accredited by a recognised accreditation body.

While these certificates may reference ISO standards, they:

• are not independently overseen,

• may not follow recognised audit rules,

• are not always accepted by customers or supply-chain partners.

For some organisations, non-accredited certification may appear cheaper or quicker — but it often fails to meet customer or contractual requirements where accredited certification has been specified.

Why this matters for Amazon suppliers

Where Amazon specifies accredited ISO certification, it is looking for assurance that certification has been carried out under recognised international controls.

In these cases:

• a non-accredited certificate may not be accepted,

• suppliers may be asked to re-certify,

• additional cost and delay can be introduced.

This is why understanding the accreditation requirement before starting the certification process is critical.

Common misconceptions we see

Amazon suppliers often encounter confusion around:

• believing all ISO certificates are the same

• assuming ISO itself “approves” certificates

• purchasing certificates without checking accreditation status

• being told accreditation is “optional” when it is not

  
  

These misunderstandings are usually the result of unclear advice or pressure to move quickly.

How to check whether a certificate is accredited

An accredited ISO certificate will typically:

• reference the accreditation body (e.g. UKAS),

• include the certification body’s accreditation mark,

• be traceable through recognised certificate databases.

If there is any uncertainty, this should be clarified before engaging in certification.

Taking a considered approach

For Amazon suppliers, the safest approach is to:

• confirm whether accredited certification is required,

• understand which ISO standard applies,

• ensure certification is pursued through an appropriate route.

Rushing into certification without clarity can result in certificates that do not meet requirements.

Support for Amazon suppliers

We support Amazon sellers in understanding ISO requirements and preparing them for accredited certification, supporting the full process through to certification by an independent certification body.

You can find further details on our Amazon Supplier ISO Support service here:

Amazon Supplier ISO Support