{"ok":true,"data":{"id":"doc-gov-001","slug":"iceqc-gov-001","documentNumber":"ICEQC-GOV-001","title":"ICEQC Standards System Charter","shortTitle":"Standards System Charter","documentType":"Charter","family":"GOVERNANCE","status":"PUBLISHED","edition":"2026","versionLabel":"Edition 2026","language":"en","publicationDate":"2026-08-26","effectiveDate":"2026-08-26","summary":"Defines the authority, principles, bodies and controlled-document system for ICEQC standards.","contentHash":"sha256-d8778af8a18de51e823a1ee77ba3606c9f310aba10b71d3a77378312b694bca2","ownerBody":"ICEQC Governing Board","approvalBody":"ICEQC Governing Council","transitionEndDate":null,"changeSummary":"The controlled standards-system charter is established for the 2026 edition.","clauses":[{"id":"cl-gov-001-1","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"1","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-1","heading":"Purpose and authority","bodyText":"1.1 The ICEQC standards system exists to develop original, transparent and auditable education-quality requirements for voluntary third-party conformity assessment.\n\n1.2 This Charter establishes the public principles, institutional authorities and document hierarchy governing that system.\n\n1.3 ICEQC does not exercise governmental regulatory, licensing, accreditation, degree-recognition or academic-equivalency authority.","normativeKind":"SCOPE","obligationLevel":"INFORMATION","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":100},{"id":"cl-gov-001-2","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"2","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-2","heading":"Scope","bodyText":"2.1 This Charter applies to every ICEQC standard, certification scheme, applicability module, governance rule, procedure, policy, guidance document, form, register, consultation text, interpretation, amendment, correction and translation.\n\n2.2 It also governs the relationship between standard-setting authority, conformity verification, certification decisions, appeals and public certification claims.\n\n2.3 Where another ICEQC document is inconsistent with this Charter, the Charter prevails unless a later edition of the Charter expressly provides otherwise.","normativeKind":"SCOPE","obligationLevel":"INFORMATION","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":200},{"id":"cl-gov-001-3","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"3","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-3","heading":"Institutional nature and boundaries","bodyText":"3.1 ICEQC is a non-governmental organization established in Switzerland and operates a voluntary education-quality standards and certification system.\n\n3.2 An ICEQC standard is a document published under ICEQC authority; an ICEQC certificate is a third-party statement limited to the holder, object, scope, edition and period shown in the public register.\n\n3.3 Neither publication nor certification confers public-law status, authorization to operate, institutional or programme accreditation, recognition of qualifications, entitlement to public funding, immigration benefit or equivalence with a governmental decision.","normativeKind":"DEFINITION","obligationLevel":"INFORMATION","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":300},{"id":"cl-gov-001-4","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"4","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-4","heading":"Principles of standardization","bodyText":"4.1 ICEQC shall conduct standards development in accordance with transparency, openness, impartiality, reasoned consensus, effectiveness, relevance and coherence.\n\n4.2 Standards shall address an identified education-quality need, avoid unnecessary duplication, remain proportionate to the risk or outcome concerned and, wherever practicable, specify performance or outcome conditions rather than prescribe a single design or method.\n\n4.3 Participation shall not be restricted by nationality, geography or organizational affiliation where the participant has a legitimate interest in the subject.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":400},{"id":"cl-gov-001-5","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"5","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-5","heading":"Public interest and international relevance","bodyText":"5.1 ICEQC standards shall take account of learners, families, educators, education providers, public-interest organizations, researchers, purchasers, regulators and other users who may rely on certification information.\n\n5.2 International relevance requires attention to different legal systems, languages, levels of resources, delivery models and stages of educational development.\n\n5.3 A requirement shall not privilege a country, provider type, technology, commercial model or proprietary solution unless an objectively justified public-interest reason is stated in the published document.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":500},{"id":"cl-gov-001-6","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"6","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-6","heading":"Standards architecture and precedence","bodyText":"6.1 The ICEQC governance series controls the standards system; certification rules control application, evaluation, decision and maintenance of certification; core requirements state common education-quality conditions; certification schemes define the applicable conformity-assessment model; and applicability modules add or select conditions for a defined sector, service or product.\n\n6.2 Guidance and research may assist understanding but do not create certification requirements unless a published normative document expressly incorporates a specific provision.\n\n6.3 A more specific document may supplement a higher-level rule but shall not silently disapply or contradict it.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":600},{"id":"cl-gov-001-7","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"7","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-7","heading":"Governing Council","bodyText":"7.1 The ICEQC Governing Council is the final institutional approval authority for controlled public standards and governance documents.\n\n7.2 Its approval confirms that the document falls within ICEQC's mandate, has completed the applicable due process, preserves impartiality and public-interest safeguards, and is authorized for publication.\n\n7.3 Approval does not permit the Council to waive a published certification requirement for an individual applicant or to replace an independent certification or appeal decision.","normativeKind":"DEFINITION","obligationLevel":"INFORMATION","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":700},{"id":"cl-gov-001-8","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"8","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-8","heading":"Standards Council and responsible technical bodies","bodyText":"8.1 The ICEQC Standards Council is responsible for the coherence, maintenance and public integrity of the standards system.\n\n8.2 A document record may assign technical responsibility to a defined council, committee or other competent body.\n\n8.3 The responsible body shall act within the scope stated in the document record, consider affected interests and preserve consistency with this Charter.\n\n8.4 Technical responsibility does not by itself confer authority to grant, refuse, suspend, withdraw or reinstate an individual certification.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":800},{"id":"cl-gov-001-9","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"9","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-9","heading":"Stakeholder participation and balance","bodyText":"9.1 Standards development shall provide meaningful opportunities for materially affected interests to submit evidence, comments and reasoned objections.\n\n9.2 ICEQC shall seek a balance among provider, learner and public-interest, professional, research, regulatory and conformity-assessment perspectives appropriate to the subject.\n\n9.3 No individual organization, funder, commercial interest or stakeholder category shall be permitted to determine an outcome by dominance.\n\n9.4 The number or market position of participants does not replace consideration of the substance of their views.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":900},{"id":"cl-gov-001-10","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"10","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-10","heading":"Impartiality and separation of authority","bodyText":"10.1 Standard-setting, conformity verification, technical review, certification decision, fee administration and appeal determination are distinct functions.\n\n10.2 A person shall not determine a certification or appeal matter in which that person has an unmanaged financial, employment, advisory, family or other interest.\n\n10.3 The authority that determines an appeal shall not have participated in the original verification, technical review or decision.\n\n10.4 Commercial considerations, payment status beyond published contractual conditions, or the prospect of future business shall not influence technical content or conformity conclusions.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":1000},{"id":"cl-gov-001-11","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"11","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-11","heading":"Transparency and public accountability","bodyText":"11.1 ICEQC shall maintain a public Standards Register identifying the current edition, status, language, publication date, effective date, responsible body and approval authority for every public controlled document.\n\n11.2 Proposed standards and substantive revisions shall be announced and consulted on in accordance with ICEQC-GOV-008.\n\n11.3 Superseded and withdrawn editions, corrections, transition notices and consultation outcomes shall remain identifiable so that a reader can reconstruct which requirements applied at a stated time.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":1100},{"id":"cl-gov-001-12","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"12","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-12","heading":"Due process, complaints and procedural appeals","bodyText":"12.1 Any person may raise a concern about the integrity, accessibility or stated operation of the ICEQC standards system through the published complaints route.\n\n12.2 A materially affected participant may challenge an alleged failure to follow the published standards-development procedure without being required to prove disagreement with the technical result.\n\n12.3 Such a challenge shall be considered by an authority not responsible for the disputed procedural action.\n\n12.4 A procedural appeal may correct process, require reconsideration or require renewed consultation; it shall not be used to secure preferential technical treatment.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":1200},{"id":"cl-gov-001-13","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"13","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-13","heading":"Continuity and review of the system","bodyText":"13.1 The governance system shall remain operable when membership, leadership, technology or organizational arrangements change.\n\n13.2 Reserved authorities, document custody and public records attach to the institution and not to an individual office-holder.\n\n13.3 This Charter shall be reviewed at least once every five years and earlier where legal change, material stakeholder concern, a failure of due process, a conflict between controlled documents or a significant change in the certification system indicates that review is necessary.\n\n13.4 Review may result in confirmation, amendment, revision or withdrawal.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":1300},{"id":"cl-gov-001-14","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"14","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-14","heading":"Interpretation of the institutional mandate","bodyText":"14.1 ICEQC shall exercise standards-development and certification authority only within the education-quality purposes stated in its public constitutional and controlled documents.\n\n14.2 The existence of technical expertise, contractual consent or market demand shall not be treated as authority to perform a function reserved by law to a government, regulator, accreditor, licensing body, qualification authority, court or another competent institution.\n\n14.3 Where an ICEQC subject overlaps a regulated field, the applicable ICEQC document shall distinguish the education-quality matter it addresses from the legal or specialist determination it does not make, and shall identify any recognized external evidence on which a limited conclusion depends.\n\n14.4 A public reader shall be able to determine from the standard, scheme, certificate and register record both the positive meaning of the ICEQC act and the matters expressly outside it.\n\n14.5 Uncertainty about mandate shall be resolved by narrowing or clarifying the ICEQC claim until authority and public meaning are unambiguous; it shall not be resolved by promotional interpretation, contractual wording or a private assurance that enlarges the public effect of certification.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":1400},{"id":"cl-gov-001-15","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"15","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-15","heading":"Ownership and stewardship of the standards system","bodyText":"15.1 ICEQC is the scheme owner and institutional steward of every standard and certification scheme issued in its name, and retains responsibility for their coherence, maintenance, interpretation and controlled public identity.\n\n15.2 A committee, expert, contractor, partner, donor, software provider or external contributor may support development but does not acquire power to issue an ICEQC standard, determine its status or authorize an ICEQC certification claim.\n\n15.3 Intellectual contributions shall be accepted on terms that permit lawful publication, maintenance, translation, correction and withdrawal without allowing a contributor to prevent necessary public-interest action.\n\n15.4 Stewardship includes preserving the historical record, protecting identifiers and marks, maintaining access to applicable requirements, and ensuring that a successor body or changed organizational structure can identify the authority under which each document was issued.\n\n15.5 ICEQC shall not describe a document as jointly owned, jointly approved or externally endorsed unless a public instrument accurately establishes that relationship, states its limits and prevents confusion about which organization is responsible for the ICEQC certification decision.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":1500},{"id":"cl-gov-001-16","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"16","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-16","heading":"Public-interest duty","bodyText":"16.1 The standards system shall be governed for the reliability of education-quality information and the protection of persons who may reasonably rely on it, with particular attention to learners and other persons exposed to unequal information or power.\n\n16.2 A decision about technical content, publication timing, access, transition or public identity shall consider foreseeable effects on safety, fairness, accessibility, privacy, educational validity and the ability to verify a claim.\n\n16.3 The interests of applicants and certified clients are legitimate stakeholder interests but shall not be treated as identical to the public interest or allowed to override the integrity of a requirement.\n\n16.4 Revenue, growth targets, reputational convenience, competitive pressure or the wish to avoid criticism shall not justify weakening a protection, concealing a limitation or delaying a necessary correction.\n\n16.5 Where affected interests cannot all be accommodated, the published reasoning shall explain the material interests considered, the protection or outcome given priority and the proportionality of the resulting rule, without disclosing protected personal or confidential information.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":1600},{"id":"cl-gov-001-17","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"17","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-17","heading":"Learner and beneficiary perspective","bodyText":"17.1 Standards development shall treat learners and the intended beneficiaries of education as materially affected interests rather than only as subjects of provider evidence.\n\n17.2 Participation arrangements shall make it reasonably possible to obtain views concerning information clarity, accessibility, safety, fairness, support, assessment, data use, complaints and the practical effects of proposed requirements.\n\n17.3 Where direct participation by children, vulnerable adults or persons requiring support would be inappropriate or unsafe, ICEQC may use lawful representative, advocacy, research or safeguarding-informed methods that preserve the substance of their interests.\n\n17.4 A provider, purchaser or expert shall not be presumed to speak exclusively for learners merely because it serves, employs, studies or regulates them.\n\n17.5 Published development information shall describe at a proportionate level how learner and beneficiary interests were considered, any material limitation on participation, and how the final text addresses a sustained concern capable of affecting protection, access or reasonable understanding of certification.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":1700},{"id":"cl-gov-001-18","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"18","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-18","heading":"Provider and implementer perspective","bodyText":"18.1 Education providers, technology developers, product manufacturers and other persons expected to implement a proposed requirement shall have a meaningful opportunity to explain feasibility, implementation burden, unintended effects and objectively equivalent means of achieving the intended outcome.\n\n18.2 Feasibility evidence shall be considered without converting existing market practice into an automatic ceiling on quality or permitting a dominant provider to define the standard for others.\n\n18.3 ICEQC shall distinguish a genuine technical, legal, accessibility or resource constraint from a preference to preserve a business model, proprietary method or avoid a necessary protection.\n\n18.4 Requirements shall remain achievable by materially different organizational forms and levels of resource where equivalent outcomes can be demonstrated, and any unavoidable restriction shall be supported by published rationale.\n\n18.5 The final text or consultation disposition shall show how substantial implementation concerns were resolved, mitigated, deferred or rejected, while maintaining that conformity is determined against the adopted requirement and not against the influence or negotiating position of a participating provider.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":1800},{"id":"cl-gov-001-19","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"19","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-19","heading":"Public authorities and regulated matters","bodyText":"19.1 ICEQC shall seek informed public-authority or regulatory perspectives where a proposed standard materially intersects education law, safeguarding, consumer protection, accessibility, privacy, product safety, professional licensure or another regulated matter.\n\n19.2 Consultation or receipt of information from a public authority does not constitute governmental approval, delegation, recognition or endorsement of ICEQC unless the authority makes a separate express public act within its lawful powers.\n\n19.3 ICEQC shall not present the absence of regulatory objection as approval and shall not claim that voluntary certification satisfies a legal obligation unless the competent legal source expressly provides that effect.\n\n19.4 Where jurisdictions differ, the standard shall identify the common education-quality outcome and preserve the certified client's duty to meet locally applicable law, rather than selecting one jurisdiction's rule as a universal legal conclusion.\n\n19.5 A public note may identify relevant legal interfaces, but legal references shall remain current, accurately scoped and clearly separated from the ICEQC conformity decision.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":1900},{"id":"cl-gov-001-20","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"20","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-20","heading":"International and cross-border participation","bodyText":"20.1 Participation in ICEQC standards development shall be open on fair terms to materially affected interests across countries and regions relevant to the proposed document.\n\n20.2 ICEQC shall consider barriers created by time zone, language, digital access, disability, travel, participation cost and unfamiliarity with standards processes, and shall adopt proportionate arrangements that permit informed contribution without requiring physical presence.\n\n20.3 Geographic diversity shall not be measured only by counting countries; it shall consider differences in legal systems, education models, infrastructure, resource conditions, culture and learner population that could change the effect of a requirement.\n\n20.4 A national delegation, government nomination or membership in another standards organization shall not be a prerequisite for participation unless a formally defined cooperative project requires it and equivalent public-comment access remains available.\n\n20.5 The development record shall identify the geographic reach achieved and any material underrepresentation relevant to interpreting the evidence or planning later review, without implying global acceptance merely because a consultation was available online.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":2000},{"id":"cl-gov-001-21","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"21","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-21","heading":"Balance of materially affected interests","bodyText":"21.1 The responsible body shall establish and disclose stakeholder categories appropriate to the subject before determining whether participation is balanced.\n\n21.2 Balance shall consider the distribution of decision influence, not only the number of registered participants, and shall account for related entities, common funding, coordinated representation and persons occupying more than one interest category.\n\n21.3 No provider, purchaser, profession, government, conformity-assessment interest, funder or other single category shall control the technical result by numerical dominance, procedural privilege or exclusive access to information.\n\n21.4 A temporary imbalance may be managed through additional outreach, independent public-interest review, limitation of voting concentration or another transparent safeguard proportionate to the risk.\n\n21.5 The final development record shall state the categories represented, material gaps, safeguards used and the responsible body's conclusion on whether the resulting process remained credible; it shall not disclose protected personal information or suggest that balance guarantees agreement with every technical outcome.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":2100},{"id":"cl-gov-001-22","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"22","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-22","heading":"Reasoned consensus","bodyText":"22.1 Consensus in the ICEQC standards system shall arise from consideration of material views and reasonable efforts to resolve sustained objections, not from silence, exhaustion, pressure to meet a date or a simple count detached from stakeholder balance.\n\n22.2 A reasoned objection shall identify the provision, the interest or outcome affected and sufficient grounds to permit technical consideration; it need not propose exact replacement text to be valid.\n\n22.3 The responsible body may conclude that an objection is resolved, accepted in part, outside scope, unsupported, disproportionate or incapable of accommodation, but shall record enough reasoning to make that conclusion reviewable.\n\n22.4 Unanimity is not required, and a participant shall not have a veto merely by maintaining opposition after fair consideration.\n\n22.5 Approval information shall identify whether consensus was found, the nature of any unresolved substantial opposition and why the document remains fit for publication, so that readers can distinguish reasoned consensus from a claim of universal agreement or endorsement.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":2200},{"id":"cl-gov-001-23","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"23","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-23","heading":"Minority views and dissent","bodyText":"23.1 A minority technical position or dissenting public-interest concern shall not be suppressed, mischaracterized or excluded from the approval record merely because the majority prefers another result.\n\n23.2 The record shall distinguish a sustained substantive objection from an editorial preference, general opposition to the project or a matter outside the approved scope.\n\n23.3 Where publication proceeds despite a material objection, the approving authority shall have access to the objection, the response, the stakeholder interest affected and the reason the remaining risk is considered acceptable or subject to later review.\n\n23.4 A public disposition may summarize multiple similar objections but shall preserve materially different reasoning and shall not disclose confidential or personal information unnecessarily.\n\n23.5 Recognition of dissent does not create a right to alternative certification treatment, and a published standard shall have one controlled normative effect; however, evidence arising after publication may trigger interpretation, monitoring, amendment or systematic review under the applicable governance rule.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":2300},{"id":"cl-gov-001-24","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"24","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-24","heading":"Conflicts of interest","bodyText":"24.1 Every person exercising material influence over standards content, approval, interpretation, certification decision or procedural appeal shall disclose interests that a reasonable observer could regard as capable of affecting impartial judgment.\n\n24.2 Relevant interests include employment, ownership, investment, funding, paid advice, litigation, close family relationships, competitive position, recent negotiation and responsibility for a product or method directly affected by the outcome.\n\n24.3 Existence of an interest does not automatically disqualify technical participation, because informed perspectives are legitimate, but the interest shall be evaluated and managed through transparency, balanced participation, restricted access, recusal, independent review or another proportionate safeguard.\n\n24.4 A person shall not determine the adequacy of the management of that person's own material conflict.\n\n24.5 Public governance information shall describe the categories of conflict controls and any recusal materially affecting authority, while protecting personal data and legitimately confidential financial details; absence of a published name shall not be represented as absence of accountability.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":2400},{"id":"cl-gov-001-25","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"25","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-25","heading":"Financial impartiality","bodyText":"25.1 The availability, timing and content of an ICEQC standard and the outcome of an ICEQC certification or appeal shall not depend on a person's purchase of consulting, training, membership, sponsorship, software, assessment preparation or another optional service.\n\n25.2 Fees may support lawful standards and certification activities, but their structure and administration shall not create a financial incentive for a technical body, assessor, reviewer or decision maker to weaken requirements or reach a preferred case outcome.\n\n25.3 No contributor or certified client shall receive undisclosed technical influence in exchange for revenue, referrals, market access or future business.\n\n25.4 Material financial dependencies capable of affecting confidence in a project shall be declared to the impartiality or approval authority and managed before publication.\n\n25.5 Public fee and sponsorship statements shall be sufficiently clear to distinguish payment for access or service from authority, recognition, endorsement or a right to certification, and non-payment shall affect a technical matter only where a published contractual condition lawfully makes it relevant.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":2500},{"id":"cl-gov-001-26","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"26","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-26","heading":"Sponsorship, grants and in-kind support","bodyText":"26.1 ICEQC may accept sponsorship, grants, donated expertise, hosting, translation support, data or other in-kind assistance only where the arrangement preserves independent technical judgment and the ICEQC-only public identity of the resulting work.\n\n26.2 The terms shall not give the supporter a veto, exclusive drafting access, preferred certification treatment, control of consultation, advance commercial use, or a claim that support constitutes approval of either party by the other.\n\n26.3 Material support for a public standards project shall be disclosed in a manner that identifies the nature of support and any relevant safeguard without revealing protected contractual details.\n\n26.4 Content derived from supported research shall be evaluated on its quality and relevance rather than the status of the funder.\n\n26.5 If support is withdrawn, ICEQC shall determine whether the project can continue with integrity, requires a changed timetable or should be discontinued, and shall not retain technically unjustified wording merely to preserve the relationship or avoid acknowledging the change.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":2600},{"id":"cl-gov-001-27","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"27","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-27","heading":"Appointment and tenure of governance participants","bodyText":"27.1 Appointments to the Governing Council, Standards Council and responsible technical bodies shall be made under publicly intelligible authority, eligibility and tenure principles that support competence, continuity, diversity and impartiality.\n\n27.2 An appointment shall identify the body, role, commencement, duration or review point, and any voting or reserved authority attached to it; honorary, advisory and observer roles shall not be presented as decision authority.\n\n27.3 Removal, resignation, expiry or incapacity shall not invalidate prior authorized institutional acts solely because membership later changes, but a decision made without the required authority or quorum remains subject to procedural review.\n\n27.4 Reappointment shall not be automatic where it would entrench dominance, unmanaged conflict or dependency.\n\n27.5 Public governance information shall identify current bodies and accountable leadership at a proportionate level, historical changes necessary to understand document approvals, and the institutional route by which vacancies or temporary absences are addressed without transferring authority informally.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":2700},{"id":"cl-gov-001-28","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"28","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-28","heading":"Collective competence","bodyText":"28.1 A governance or technical body shall collectively possess competence appropriate to the decisions assigned to it, including knowledge of education quality, relevant sectors, conformity assessment, standards drafting, learner and public interests, legal and ethical boundaries, accessibility, evidence evaluation and international application.\n\n28.2 Collective competence does not require every member to be expert in every subject, but the body shall recognize when independent specialist input is necessary and shall not treat general reputation as a substitute for relevant knowledge.\n\n28.3 A specialist may advise without becoming a decision maker, and reliance on advice shall not transfer accountability from the authorized body.\n\n28.4 Competence considerations shall include the ability to understand minority evidence, conflicts between jurisdictions, digital and multilingual effects, and the limits of ICEQC authority.\n\n28.5 Public records shall identify the competence basis in aggregate or by role sufficiently to support confidence, while personal qualifications, private evaluations and protected data need not be disclosed beyond what is necessary for accountability.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":2800},{"id":"cl-gov-001-29","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"29","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-29","heading":"Experts, observers and invited contributors","bodyText":"29.1 A responsible body may obtain assistance from experts, observers, liaison representatives, invited contributors and persons with lived experience where this improves the relevance or legitimacy of its work.\n\n29.2 Their status, access and influence shall be distinguishable from formal decision authority, and participation shall be subject to applicable confidentiality, conduct, rights and conflict-of-interest safeguards.\n\n29.3 An expert opinion shall be evaluated with other evidence and shall not become binding merely because the expert holds a prominent title, represents a public authority or authored a source document.\n\n29.4 Observers shall not be used to create an appearance of endorsement by their employers or organizations.\n\n29.5 Where an invited contributor supplies material text, data or methodology, the development record shall preserve provenance and rights sufficient for review and future maintenance, and the final document shall remain an ICEQC institutional act rather than a personal or external publication.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":2900},{"id":"cl-gov-001-30","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"30","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-30","heading":"Delegation of authority","bodyText":"30.1 An ICEQC body may delegate a function only where the delegating authority possesses that function, the delegation is permitted by the controlling document, and the scope, recipient, duration, conditions and reporting relationship are clear.\n\n30.2 Delegation shall not be inferred from access to a system, performance of administrative work, use of a title, prior custom or absence of objection.\n\n30.3 A delegated person or body shall act within the stated boundaries and shall not further delegate a reserved function unless expressly authorized.\n\n30.4 The delegating body retains institutional accountability and shall remain able to review whether the delegation operates as intended, without reopening an individual independent decision merely because it dislikes the result.\n\n30.5 Public records shall identify delegation where knowledge of the decision authority is material to the validity or meaning of a standard, interpretation, publication, certification or appeal outcome.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":3000},{"id":"cl-gov-001-31","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"31","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-31","heading":"Reserved institutional decisions","bodyText":"31.1 Approval of the Standards System Charter, authorization of a new normative document family, final approval of a public normative standard, withdrawal of the complete certification system, and alteration of the institutional meaning of ICEQC certification are reserved to the ICEQC Governing Council unless a later public Charter lawfully assigns the function elsewhere.\n\n31.2 The Standards Council or responsible technical body may develop, review and recommend such action but shall not represent recommendation as final approval.\n\n31.3 Administrative publication authority may confirm identity and release of an already approved text but shall not change its normative content.\n\n31.4 A reserved decision shall identify the authority, subject, date, effect and any condition or transition necessary for public understanding.\n\n31.5 Emergency delegation shall not be used to make a permanent constitutional change without the later process and approval required for that change.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":3100},{"id":"cl-gov-001-32","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"32","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-32","heading":"Separation from certification assessment","bodyText":"32.1 Participation in developing or approving a standard shall not by itself authorize a person to assess an applicant, conduct technical review or make a certification decision under that standard.\n\n32.2 Where a standards participant also performs a certification function, competence and impartiality shall be established for the separate role and any interest arising from authorship, consultancy, training or prior involvement shall be managed.\n\n32.3 A person shall not use privileged knowledge of unpublished drafting intention to impose a condition absent from the published text.\n\n32.4 Questions arising in an assessment shall be determined through the applicable certification and interpretation rules, not through private access to a drafter.\n\n32.5 Public certification information shall preserve ICEQC responsibility for the decision and shall not suggest that a named standards contributor personally approved the certified client or guarantees the application of the document.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":3200},{"id":"cl-gov-001-33","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"33","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-33","heading":"Separation of appeal authority","bodyText":"33.1 A person or body deciding a procedural appeal or certification appeal shall be independent of the action under challenge and shall have no responsibility to defend the original outcome as an institutional or personal interest.\n\n33.2 Prior general participation in adopting a standard does not alone preclude interpretation of that standard on appeal, but direct involvement in the disputed assessment, technical review, decision, complaint handling or procedural act shall preclude determination of the same matter.\n\n33.3 Appointment, information access and support arrangements shall preserve the appeal authority's ability to review the complete relevant record without direction from commercial or original decision functions.\n\n33.4 The public decision shall identify the appeal authority, jurisdiction, conclusion and sufficient reasons, subject to lawful confidentiality.\n\n33.5 An appeal outcome may correct or remit a decision within its scope but shall not privately amend the standard for all other persons.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":3300},{"id":"cl-gov-001-34","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"34","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-34","heading":"Freedom to raise integrity concerns","bodyText":"34.1 A participant, employee, contractor, applicant, certified client, learner or other affected person shall be able to raise a good-faith concern about standards integrity, misleading certification identity, conflict of interest, procedural failure or misuse of authority through an accessible published route.\n\n34.2 The route shall permit the person to explain the subject and supporting information without being required to characterize it correctly as a complaint, appeal, disclosure or technical comment before ICEQC determines the appropriate jurisdiction.\n\n34.3 Confidentiality may be provided to the extent lawful and compatible with fair determination, but anonymity shall not be promised where disclosure is necessary to protect a person, answer an allegation or comply with law.\n\n34.4 A concern shall not be rejected solely because it is critical, inconvenient, submitted in non-technical language or raised by a person without membership or commercial relationship.\n\n34.5 The existence of the route does not validate every allegation, and any resulting adverse institutional or certification action shall be made only by the competent authority under the applicable due process.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":3400},{"id":"cl-gov-001-35","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"35","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-35","heading":"Protection against retaliation","bodyText":"35.1 No person shall suffer retaliation by ICEQC for making a good-faith standards comment, objection, complaint, appeal, integrity disclosure or request for correction, or for declining to support a proposed consensus.\n\n35.2 Retaliation includes improper exclusion, threat, unfavorable certification treatment, disclosure intended to cause harm, withdrawal of an unrelated opportunity or pressure to abandon a legitimate concern.\n\n35.3 This protection does not prevent proportionate action concerning abusive conduct, deliberate falsehood, unlawful disclosure, harassment or a conflict that genuinely affects participation, provided the action is based on the conduct and not the protected disagreement.\n\n35.4 A person alleging retaliation shall have access to a review independent of the function concerned.\n\n35.5 Where retaliation is substantiated, corrective action shall address both the individual effect and any systemic condition capable of discouraging future participation, while publication shall be limited to information necessary for accountability and lawful protection.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":3500},{"id":"cl-gov-001-36","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"36","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-36","heading":"Compliance with applicable law","bodyText":"36.1 ICEQC standards shall be drafted and governed on the premise that applicable law continues to apply independently of voluntary certification.\n\n36.2 A standard may establish a higher or more specific education-quality condition where lawful, but shall not instruct a person to breach a legal obligation or imply that conformity resolves every jurisdictional requirement.\n\n36.3 Where legal rules materially differ, the document shall state the common requirement and provide a controlled method for recognizing jurisdiction-specific obligations without purporting to give universal legal advice.\n\n36.4 Discovery of a credible conflict between an ICEQC provision and applicable law shall trigger prompt review, risk containment and, where necessary, correction, amendment, interpretation, transition or suspension of the affected provision.\n\n36.5 Public wording shall distinguish a legal reference, an ICEQC requirement and evidence of legal compliance so that an ICEQC finding is not misrepresented as a judgment by a court or regulator.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":3600},{"id":"cl-gov-001-37","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"37","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-37","heading":"Intellectual-property integrity","bodyText":"37.1 The standards system shall respect copyright, trademark, patent, database, confidentiality and other applicable rights while preserving public access to the complete ICEQC certification basis.\n\n37.2 ICEQC shall not reproduce protected material without permission, remove attribution required by law, or use a proprietary source in a way that falsely implies authorship or endorsement.\n\n37.3 A known patent or licensing condition necessary to implement a requirement shall be considered for accessibility, competition, proportionality and availability of equivalent means before approval, and a material unavoidable dependency shall be publicly disclosed.\n\n37.4 A rights claim raised after publication shall be reviewed without silently deleting or altering the controlled text; any correction, replacement or restriction shall be recorded under the document-control rules.\n\n37.5 Protection of source material shall not be used to conceal a normative threshold, interpretation or method that affected persons must know to understand what certification requires.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":3700},{"id":"cl-gov-001-38","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"38","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-38","heading":"Privacy and responsible information use","bodyText":"38.1 Standards governance shall collect, use, disclose and retain personal information only for legitimate, stated purposes proportionate to participation, decision, integrity and record needs.\n\n38.2 Public consultation and governance transparency shall not require unnecessary publication of personal contact details, sensitive characteristics, confidential employment information or identifiable learner data.\n\n38.3 A contributor shall be told at a reasonable level how a submission and identity may be used, including whether comments or affiliations may be published, and shall be given a route to identify legitimately confidential material.\n\n38.4 Privacy shall not be invoked to conceal institutional authority, unmanaged conflict, source provenance material to technical trust or the reasons for a public decision where disclosure can occur without unnecessary personal data.\n\n38.5 A material information incident affecting the fairness or reliability of standards development shall be addressed through the applicable accountability and correction routes and shall not be hidden solely to avoid reputational impact.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":3800},{"id":"cl-gov-001-39","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"39","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-39","heading":"Information security and authenticity","bodyText":"39.1 ICEQC shall protect the authenticity, integrity and availability of controlled standards records in proportion to the risk of unauthorized change, loss, impersonation or misleading public use.\n\n39.2 An approved text, decision record, consultation submission, vote or consensus record, content hash and publication event shall be protected against alteration that cannot be detected or attributed.\n\n39.3 Security controls shall preserve access and due process and shall not create a secret normative version available only to privileged users.\n\n39.4 Where a material compromise is suspected, ICEQC shall identify the affected records, state any uncertainty relevant to public reliance, preserve available evidence and issue a controlled confirmation, correction or replacement as appropriate.\n\n39.5 A technical service provider may support security but shall not determine document authority or normative content, and failure or change of a particular platform shall not erase the institutional record or transfer custody of ICEQC standards.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":3900},{"id":"cl-gov-001-40","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"40","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-40","heading":"Accessibility of governance participation","bodyText":"40.1 Public standards information and participation opportunities shall be designed so that disability does not create an avoidable barrier to obtaining a draft, understanding status, submitting a comment or reading an outcome.\n\n40.2 Documents shall use accessible structure, meaningful headings, machine-readable text, alternatives to material visual information and sufficient contrast and navigation in the controlled publication formats.\n\n40.3 Where a standard-development activity uses a meeting, video, form or platform, ICEQC shall provide reasonable accessible alternatives or adjustments appropriate to the participation offered and information requested.\n\n40.4 Accessibility needs shall not reduce the weight of a substantive contribution or require disclosure beyond what is necessary to arrange support.\n\n40.5 A temporary technical limitation shall be stated and remedied through another meaningful route; it shall not be treated as consent, lack of interest or a reason to close a consultation before an affected person can participate.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":4000},{"id":"cl-gov-001-41","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"41","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-41","heading":"Language access in governance","bodyText":"41.1 English may serve as the authoritative language of the ICEQC governance system, but language difference shall be considered when designing international participation and public explanation.\n\n41.2 ICEQC may provide controlled or informative translations, multilingual summaries, terminology aids or translated comment routes where this materially improves access, provided their status and precedence are clear.\n\n41.3 A comment shall not receive less substantive consideration merely because it is submitted in another accepted language or requires translation.\n\n41.4 Machine translation may assist access but shall not be treated as a reliable resolution of disputed normative meaning without competent review.\n\n41.5 Where consultation is conducted only in English, the development record shall not imply that all affected language communities were equally represented, and later evidence of a material translation or cultural interpretation issue shall be capable of triggering controlled clarification or review.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":4100},{"id":"cl-gov-001-42","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"42","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-42","heading":"Digital equality and technology neutrality","bodyText":"42.1 The standards system may use digital publication, consultation and verification, but participation and public reliance shall not depend unnecessarily on a proprietary device, paid account, closed platform or technology unavailable to a material part of the affected community.\n\n42.2 A controlled digital reader shall preserve the complete authoritative text, stable identifiers, status and accessible means of citation, while downloadable or alternative representations shall make the same normative meaning available.\n\n42.3 Automated tools may support search, comparison, completeness checks and aggregation but shall not secretly draft, approve, reinterpret or change a normative requirement.\n\n42.4 Where automated analysis materially informs development, the responsible body shall understand its limitations and retain accountable human judgment.\n\n42.5 A change of technology shall preserve document identity, historical links, public records and the ability to verify which content was approved; a convenient interface shall not become a separate source of authority.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":4200},{"id":"cl-gov-001-43","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"43","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-43","heading":"Public standards work programme","bodyText":"43.1 ICEQC shall maintain a public work programme identifying planned new standards, substantive revisions and systematic reviews sufficiently early for interested persons to anticipate participation.\n\n43.2 For each active project, the programme shall identify the subject, intended document or family, responsible body, current development stage, expected consultation opportunity and a reasonable indication of timing, while making clear that schedules may change.\n\n43.3 Discontinued, merged or materially re-scoped projects shall remain traceable with a short explanation so that earlier notices do not continue to imply an expected publication.\n\n43.4 The programme shall distinguish normative standards work from research, guidance, certification casework and internal administrative improvement.\n\n43.5 Absence of a project from the programme shall not be used to deny that a published emergency action occurred, but any permitted emergency departure shall be identified and reviewed under the expedited procedure rather than retrospectively presented as ordinary planned work.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":4300},{"id":"cl-gov-001-44","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"44","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-44","heading":"Governance record","bodyText":"44.1 Each standards project and material governance decision shall have a controlled record capable of showing the authority, applicable procedure, principal evidence, participation opportunity, comments and objections, conflict safeguards, recommendation, reviews, approval, final content identity and publication or other outcome.\n\n44.2 The record shall be sufficiently complete for a competent person independent of the original activity to determine whether the published due process was followed, without requiring reconstruction from personal memory or informal correspondence.\n\n44.3 Public and protected components may be separated, but their existence, relationship and retention status shall remain controlled.\n\n44.4 A record shall distinguish contemporaneous evidence from a later explanation and shall not be rewritten to create an appearance that an omitted action occurred.\n\n44.5 Retention shall reflect the continuing life of the document, historical certification reliance, legal obligations and the period in which a procedural challenge may reasonably arise.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":4400},{"id":"cl-gov-001-45","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"45","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-45","heading":"Transparency of meetings and decisions","bodyText":"45.1 Where a meeting materially contributes to technical consensus, approval or resolution of a substantial objection, its date, purpose, participating interest categories, authority and resulting decisions shall be recorded.\n\n45.2 Transparency does not require public livestreaming or verbatim disclosure of all deliberation, and protected personal, security, legal or commercially confidential information may be withheld.\n\n45.3 The public record shall nevertheless permit readers to understand what institutional body acted, what issue was decided and how that action relates to the published document.\n\n45.4 Informal discussions, workshops and bilateral meetings may inform understanding but shall not be used to make an undisclosed decision or give selected interests an exclusive opportunity to change normative text.\n\n45.5 A correction to a meeting or decision record shall preserve the original entry, identify the reason and shall not retroactively alter a vote, attendance or authority without due-process review.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":4500},{"id":"cl-gov-001-46","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"46","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-46","heading":"Consultation and disposition register","bodyText":"46.1 For each public consultation on a normative document, ICEQC shall maintain a register identifying the consultation text and hash or equivalent identity, opening and closing dates, accepted submission methods, language arrangements, number and broad categories of responses, and the location of the public disposition.\n\n46.2 The register shall not exaggerate participation by counting duplicate or automated submissions as distinct substantive support, and shall not treat absence of comments as affirmative consensus.\n\n46.3 A disposition shall connect each material issue to the responsible body's response and resulting change or reason for retaining the text.\n\n46.4 Personal data, confidential evidence and abusive content may be redacted, but redaction shall not remove the technical proposition necessary to understand the response.\n\n46.5 The register shall remain associated with the resulting edition so that later readers can distinguish the consultation history of one edition from another.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":4600},{"id":"cl-gov-001-47","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"47","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-47","heading":"Published interpretations","bodyText":"47.1 An interpretation affecting the consistent understanding of a normative provision shall be issued only through the authority and change classification established by ICEQC-GOV-006.\n\n47.2 It shall identify the document, edition, clause, question, conclusion, reasons, approving authority, date and effect on existing and future application.\n\n47.3 An interpretation shall explain existing text and shall not add a new requirement, exception, threshold, evidence form or scope condition that a reasonable reader could not derive from the published provision.\n\n47.4 Private advice, webinar statements, training materials, assessor opinions and correspondence are not authoritative interpretations.\n\n47.5 Where the text cannot support a reliable common conclusion without adding meaning, ICEQC shall use an amendment or new edition with appropriate consultation and transition rather than describe the new rule as interpretation.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":4700},{"id":"cl-gov-001-48","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"48","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-48","heading":"Emergency governance action","bodyText":"48.1 ICEQC may take a temporary emergency governance action where delay presents a credible material risk to learners, the public, legal compliance, information integrity, impartiality or the reliability of certification.\n\n48.2 The action shall be authorized by a body competent for the affected function, limited in subject and duration, and accompanied by a public notice stating the risk, authority, immediate effect, affected documents or claims and expected review.\n\n48.3 Emergency authority shall not be used to bypass consultation for convenience, accelerate a commercial launch, suppress criticism or make a permanent expansion of institutional mandate.\n\n48.4 Protected details may be withheld where disclosure would increase harm, but enough information shall be available to explain the legal and institutional basis.\n\n48.5 The action shall be reviewed promptly and shall lapse, be confirmed through ordinary due process, or be replaced by a controlled amendment, withdrawal or transition decision.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":4800},{"id":"cl-gov-001-49","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"49","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-49","heading":"Conflict between controlled documents","bodyText":"49.1 When ICEQC identifies an actual or credible conflict between controlled documents, it shall determine the affected provisions, editions, scopes and possible conformity consequences before advising reliance on either text.\n\n49.2 The hierarchy in this Charter governs pending correction, but a general precedence rule shall not be used to conceal uncertainty where two texts could reasonably produce different outcomes.\n\n49.3 ICEQC shall publish a notice or interpretation sufficient to prevent adverse reliance, identify whether certification activity must pause or use a protective assumption, and initiate the appropriate correction, amendment or revision.\n\n49.4 A lower-level document cannot amend a higher-level rule merely because it is later or more detailed unless the higher-level document expressly permits that effect.\n\n49.5 Resolution shall preserve historical traceability and shall not retrospectively convert conduct into nonconformity under a requirement that was materially unclear at the relevant time.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":4900},{"id":"cl-gov-001-50","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"50","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-50","heading":"Governance nonconformity and corrective action","bodyText":"50.1 A substantiated failure by ICEQC to follow a published governance requirement shall be treated as a governance nonconformity and shall not be hidden by reclassifying the affected act as informal or administrative.\n\n50.2 ICEQC shall determine the nature, extent, cause and public effect of the failure; contain any continuing risk; correct affected records or actions where possible; and address the cause in proportion to recurrence and impact.\n\n50.3 The remedy may include renewed review, restored participation opportunity, reconsultation, corrected publication, withdrawal, independent oversight or confirmation that the failure did not affect normative validity, with reasons.\n\n50.4 Governance corrective action shall be separate from an applicant's certification finding and shall not be assigned to a certified client.\n\n50.5 Public disclosure shall be sufficient to protect reliance and explain any change in status while respecting lawful confidentiality and the fairness of ongoing proceedings.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":5000},{"id":"cl-gov-001-51","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"51","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-51","heading":"Complaints about the standards system","bodyText":"51.1 Any person may submit a complaint concerning accessibility, conduct, conflict management, misleading communication, failure to consider a comment, misuse of identity or another aspect of the standards system.\n\n51.2 ICEQC shall make the route, scope, expected stages, confidentiality approach and possible outcomes publicly understandable and shall direct a misclassified submission to the appropriate process where reasonably possible.\n\n51.3 Complaint handling shall be impartial and shall give a person whose conduct is materially criticized a fair opportunity to respond before an adverse conclusion, subject to protective measures where risk requires.\n\n51.4 The outcome shall state the issue, applicable rule, information considered, conclusion, reasons and any corrective or referral action.\n\n51.5 A complaint does not automatically suspend a standard or certification, but the competent authority may impose a proportionate interim protection where continued reliance could cause material harm.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":5100},{"id":"cl-gov-001-52","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"52","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-52","heading":"Procedural appeals concerning standards development","bodyText":"52.1 A materially affected participant may appeal a final determination that ICEQC failed to follow a published standards-development procedure in a manner capable of affecting fair participation, authority or the resulting document.\n\n52.2 The appeal shall be decided by a person or panel independent of the disputed action and competent to evaluate the procedural record.\n\n52.3 Review may consider notice, access, balance, conflict management, comment disposition, consensus, required approvals and publication identity, but shall not replace technical judgment merely because the appellant prefers another requirement.\n\n52.4 A successful appeal may require correction, reconsideration, renewed consultation, a new approval decision, temporary status qualification or withdrawal of the affected publication.\n\n52.5 The public outcome shall explain the procedural conclusion and effect while protecting personal and confidential information, and shall identify any further route or finality rule that applies.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":5200},{"id":"cl-gov-001-53","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"53","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-53","heading":"Monitoring the effectiveness of governance","bodyText":"53.1 ICEQC shall monitor whether the standards system operates consistently with transparency, openness, impartiality, consensus, relevance, coherence and public verifiability.\n\n53.2 Monitoring shall consider participation patterns, unresolved objections, complaint and appeal themes, correction frequency, translation discrepancies, broken references, conflicting interpretations, transition outcomes and evidence that standards create unintended exclusion or cannot support consistent conformity decisions.\n\n53.3 Counts alone shall not be treated as proof of quality; absence of complaints may indicate either effective governance or inaccessible routes.\n\n53.4 Findings shall inform systematic review, competence development, procedural amendment and public explanation as appropriate.\n\n53.5 Aggregate results and material improvement decisions shall be disclosed at a level that supports accountability without exposing protected case information or converting internal performance monitoring into a public certification claim about ICEQC itself.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":5300},{"id":"cl-gov-001-54","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"54","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-54","heading":"Independent review of the governance system","bodyText":"54.1 The Governing Council shall arrange periodic review of the governance system by persons who are sufficiently independent of routine standards-development and certification decisions to provide credible challenge.\n\n54.2 Review shall consider whether public rules are complete, internally consistent, actually followed and suitable for the scale, geography, technology and risk of ICEQC activity.\n\n54.3 The reviewers shall have access to representative public and protected records under appropriate confidentiality and shall be free to identify systemic weakness, even where no individual decision has been overturned.\n\n54.4 The review outcome shall identify scope, independence safeguards, principal conclusions, material corrective commitments and the responsible authority for follow-up.\n\n54.5 Publication may summarize sensitive findings, but shall not omit a material qualification necessary to understand whether the governance system remains fit for purpose.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":5400},{"id":"cl-gov-001-55","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"55","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-55","heading":"Cooperation and liaison arrangements","bodyText":"55.1 ICEQC may cooperate with standards bodies, education organizations, research institutions, public authorities, professional associations, consumer or learner groups and other entities where cooperation advances education quality and remains within ICEQC authority.\n\n55.2 A public arrangement shall identify its purpose, parties, duration, governance, intellectual-property position and any effect on participation or document development.\n\n55.3 Cooperation shall not give either party authority to speak for, approve, certify or bind the other beyond the express arrangement, and shall not create preferential certification access or hidden normative influence.\n\n55.4 Information obtained through liaison shall be evaluated under the same relevance and conflict principles as other evidence.\n\n55.5 Where an arrangement ends or materially changes, public references shall be corrected so that historic cooperation is not presented as current recognition, endorsement or joint certification.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":5500},{"id":"cl-gov-001-56","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"56","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-56","heading":"External recognition and equivalence claims","bodyText":"56.1 ICEQC shall not claim that its standards or certificates are recognized, equivalent, aligned, accredited or approved by another organization or authority unless the precise claim is supported by a current public act from a competent source and used within its stated scope.\n\n56.2 Participation in consultation, citation of a source, shared terminology, membership, memorandum of understanding, attendance at an event or technical similarity does not by itself establish recognition or equivalence.\n\n56.3 A comparative mapping may identify factual similarities and differences but shall state its author, method, edition basis, limitations and non-normative effect.\n\n56.4 Expiry, withdrawal or limitation of an external status shall be reflected promptly in ICEQC public communication.\n\n56.5 Nothing in this rule prevents accurate description of independent cooperation or lawful external evaluation, but the description shall preserve the ICEQC-only issuer and certification identity required by ICEQC-GOV-009.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":5600},{"id":"cl-gov-001-57","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"57","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-57","heading":"Business continuity of standards governance","bodyText":"57.1 ICEQC shall maintain continuity arrangements proportionate to events capable of interrupting governance, including loss of key office-holders, technology failure, cyber incident, disaster, legal restriction, financial distress, supplier failure or inability of a body to meet.\n\n57.2 Continuity shall preserve document custody, public status information, decision authority, conflict safeguards, consultation records and the ability to issue urgent corrections without transferring normative power to an unauthorized person.\n\n57.3 Temporary arrangements shall be documented, time-limited and reviewed, and shall not be used to make avoidable permanent policy changes while ordinary representation is unavailable.\n\n57.4 If a public service is unavailable, ICEQC shall provide a credible status notice and alternative verification route as soon as practicable.\n\n57.5 Restoration shall confirm the integrity of records and identify any governance or publication action taken during the disruption that affects public reliance.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":5700},{"id":"cl-gov-001-58","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"58","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-58","heading":"Retention and historical accountability","bodyText":"58.1 Governance records shall be retained for a period sufficient to support the life of the affected document, applicable certification reliance, systematic review, legal obligations and credible procedural challenge.\n\n58.2 At minimum, the authoritative publication, approval identity, public consultation outcome, amendment and correction history, and status transitions shall remain permanently identifiable as part of the institutional standards record.\n\n58.3 Disposal of supporting material shall be authorized, documented and suspended where a known complaint, appeal, investigation, legal hold or integrity concern makes the material relevant.\n\n58.4 Migration to a new format or custodian shall preserve authenticity, accessibility, metadata and relationships rather than only the visual text.\n\n58.5 A reader shall be able to determine that an older record is historical without mistaking it for current authority, and absence of an old operational detail shall not be filled by undocumented reconstruction.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":5800},{"id":"cl-gov-001-59","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"59","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-59","heading":"Institutional restructuring or cessation","bodyText":"59.1 A merger, renaming, transfer of assets, change of legal form, relocation, insolvency or cessation of ICEQC activity shall not silently transfer standards ownership, certification liability or decision authority.\n\n59.2 Before a material restructuring takes effect, the competent governance authority shall determine custody of controlled documents and records, treatment of active standards and certificates, public-register continuity, claims and marks, outstanding complaints and appeals, personal data, contractual duties and the identity of any lawful successor.\n\n59.3 A successor shall not represent itself as having issued historic ICEQC decisions unless the legal and controlled record supports that continuity, and shall not enlarge their scope.\n\n59.4 If no suitable successor exists, ICEQC shall provide orderly withdrawal, archival verification and public notice to the extent lawfully and practically possible.\n\n59.5 The public record shall distinguish continuation, transfer, suspension and termination so that institutional change is not mistaken for automatic ongoing certification validity.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":5900},{"id":"cl-gov-001-60","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"60","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-60","heading":"Review and amendment of the Charter","bodyText":"60.1 Review of this Charter shall consider experience across all ICEQC document families, changes in law and international good practice, stakeholder and learner evidence, governance complaints and appeals, impartiality risks, technology and language access, and the continuing accuracy of the certification boundary.\n\n60.2 Confirmation without change shall require a reasoned conclusion that the Charter remains complete, coherent and fit for purpose; passage of time alone is not sufficient.\n\n60.3 A proposed substantive amendment shall receive public consultation and the approval safeguards applicable to the highest governance level, including disclosure of material effects on subordinate documents and existing certification.\n\n60.4 An amendment shall not retroactively validate an act that lacked authority when made.\n\n60.5 Publication shall include a change summary, effective date, transition treatment and identification of any subordinate document requiring consequential correction or revision.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":6000},{"id":"cl-gov-001-61","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"61","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-61","heading":"Constitutional precedence and subordinate authority","bodyText":"61.1 This Charter is the highest ICEQC controlled rule for the standards and certification system and shall govern the interpretation of subordinate governance rules, certification procedures, schemes, modules, policies and public identity instruments.\n\n61.2 A subordinate document may allocate detail, establish additional safeguards or adapt application to a defined object, but shall not remove a Charter protection, enlarge institutional authority or create an exception by implication.\n\n61.3 Where the Charter reserves a matter for another document, that document shall act within the reservation and remain subject to the Charter's purpose and boundaries.\n\n61.4 A contract, committee resolution, platform setting, partnership term or individual decision shall not amend this hierarchy.\n\n61.5 Any proposal to alter precedence shall be made visibly as a Charter amendment, assessed for consequential effects throughout the controlled-document system and published with transition arrangements that prevent different audiences from being governed unknowingly by inconsistent authority.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":6100},{"id":"cl-gov-001-62","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"62","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-62","heading":"Equal and non-discriminatory participation","bodyText":"62.1 ICEQC shall administer access to standards information and development opportunities without improper discrimination based on nationality, location, language, disability, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, religion, age, organizational size, commercial relationship, political view or another status unrelated to the legitimate needs of the activity.\n\n62.2 Different arrangements may be used to overcome disadvantage, protect vulnerable persons, manage conflicts or obtain missing perspectives and do not constitute improper preference where they are proportionate and transparent.\n\n62.3 Participation may be limited by project scope, competence needed for a reserved role, conduct rules or lawful confidentiality, but the reason shall be connected to the function rather than opposition to a technical position.\n\n62.4 A participation decision capable of materially excluding an affected interest shall be reviewable through the published procedural route.\n\n62.5 Equal access does not require ICEQC to fund every participant, but financial and technological barriers shall be considered when evaluating whether consultation was meaningful.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":6200},{"id":"cl-gov-001-63","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"63","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-63","heading":"Standards-participation conduct","bodyText":"63.1 Standards participants shall engage in professional, respectful and evidence-oriented conduct compatible with open technical disagreement.\n\n63.2 Harassment, intimidation, discriminatory abuse, deliberate disruption, impersonation, coercion, unauthorized disclosure and knowing misrepresentation of another person's position are inconsistent with participation rights.\n\n63.3 A conduct response shall be proportionate, shall distinguish robust criticism from abuse and shall not be used to remove an inconvenient technical objection.\n\n63.4 Except where immediate protection is necessary, the affected person shall be informed of the concern and given a fair opportunity to respond before a material restriction is imposed.\n\n63.5 Any restriction shall identify its scope, duration, reason and review route, and shall preserve the technical record already submitted where it remains relevant.\n\n63.6 Conduct rules shall apply consistently across status and seniority and shall not give a sponsor, office-holder or dominant participant immunity from accountability.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":6300},{"id":"cl-gov-001-64","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"64","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-64","heading":"Decision quorum and voting safeguards","bodyText":"64.1 Where an authorized body uses a formal vote, the applicable public governance record shall identify the eligible decision membership, quorum rule, voting threshold, treatment of abstention and conflict recusals, and whether the vote determines or only recommends the outcome.\n\n64.2 Quorum shall reflect sufficient participation and stakeholder balance for the assigned decision and shall not be manufactured by excluding known dissent or counting persons without authority.\n\n64.3 A proxy, written vote or asynchronous decision may be used only where identity, information equality and the controlling rule permit it.\n\n64.4 Numerical passage shall not cure a missing mandatory consultation, unmanaged conflict, lack of reserved authority or failure to consider a sustained substantial objection.\n\n64.5 The final record shall state the result and any material limitation while protecting individual vote confidentiality where that safeguard was established in advance.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":6400},{"id":"cl-gov-001-65","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"65","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-65","heading":"Recusal and loss of participation in a decision","bodyText":"65.1 A person subject to recusal shall not receive restricted decision material beyond what another similarly situated stakeholder may receive, shape the recommendation through informal direction, vote, determine consensus or approve the record of the matter from which recused.\n\n65.2 Recusal may be limited to a provision or issue where the remaining participation does not create a reasonable appearance of influence over the affected outcome.\n\n65.3 The body shall determine whether it retains competence, balance and quorum after recusal and shall obtain replacement or independent review where necessary.\n\n65.4 The record shall identify that a recusal occurred and its effect on authority without publishing unnecessary personal detail.\n\n65.5 A later challenge shall examine the substance and management of the conflict, not merely whether a declaration form existed, and a failure capable of materially affecting impartiality shall be addressed under the governance corrective-action rules.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":6500},{"id":"cl-gov-001-66","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"66","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-66","heading":"Evidence used in governance decisions","bodyText":"66.1 A governance or technical conclusion shall be based on information whose relevance, source, limitations and relationship to the issue can be understood.\n\n66.2 Research reputation, citation count, participant seniority, commercial adoption or a large data volume shall not replace evaluation of method, population, currency, bias, uncertainty and applicability.\n\n66.3 Anecdotal and lived-experience evidence may identify harms, barriers or questions even where it does not establish prevalence, while quantitative evidence shall not be interpreted beyond its design.\n\n66.4 Conflicting evidence shall be acknowledged and evaluated rather than selected solely to support a preferred text.\n\n66.5 Where evidence remains materially uncertain, the responsible body may adopt a proportionate precaution, pilot, monitoring condition or narrower requirement and shall explain the basis.\n\n66.6 Protected source material may be considered where lawful, but no conclusion shall depend on a hidden normative premise unavailable to affected readers.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":6600},{"id":"cl-gov-001-67","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"67","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-67","heading":"Pilots, trials and field evaluation","bodyText":"67.1 ICEQC may use a pilot or field evaluation to examine clarity, feasibility, evidence availability, assessment consistency and unintended effects before approving a new or substantially revised normative document.\n\n67.2 Participation in a pilot shall not be represented as certification under the draft, confer preferred future treatment or require a participant to endorse the result.\n\n67.3 Pilot conditions, status, scope and use of information shall be communicated in advance, and affected confidential and personal information shall be protected.\n\n67.4 Findings shall distinguish technical evidence from participant satisfaction and shall identify limits caused by sample, geography, object type or simulated activity.\n\n67.5 A pilot may justify change, further consultation, delayed publication or discontinuation, but shall not replace the required approval process.\n\n67.6 If a live certification relies on a separately published existing edition during the pilot, that basis shall remain clear and independent of the trial text.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":6700},{"id":"cl-gov-001-68","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"68","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-68","heading":"Proportionality of governance controls","bodyText":"68.1 Governance safeguards shall be proportionate to the normative effect, risk, novelty, scope and public reliance associated with the decision.\n\n68.2 A correction with no change of meaning need not repeat the full process for a new certification scheme, while a small textual change that expands scope or removes a protection shall receive the process warranted by its effect.\n\n68.3 Proportionality shall not be used as a general excuse to omit transparency, competence, conflict management, authority or an opportunity for affected comment where those safeguards are material.\n\n68.4 The responsible body shall state the reason for any reduced or enhanced process and shall apply comparable reasoning to comparable cases.\n\n68.5 Where doubt exists about whether a change may affect conformity or public claims, the higher level of control shall apply until the effect is resolved.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":6800},{"id":"cl-gov-001-69","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"69","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-69","heading":"Coherence with the certification architecture","bodyText":"69.1 A governance decision shall consider its effect on the complete ICEQC certification architecture, including core requirements, object-specific schemes, applicability modules, assessment procedures, decisions, certificates, marks, public-register fields, translations and transitions.\n\n69.2 A standards body shall not assume that another part of the system will correct ambiguous scope, unavailable evidence or an impossible requirement after publication.\n\n69.3 Proposed terminology and identifiers shall be checked against current controlled use, and a necessary consequential change shall be identified before the principal document becomes effective.\n\n69.4 Where simultaneous change is impracticable, the transition record shall state which existing rule continues, which later action is required and how contradiction is prevented.\n\n69.5 Coherence review shall preserve the binary conformity model and the rule that all applicable requirements must conform before a positive certification decision.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":6900},{"id":"cl-gov-001-70","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"70","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-70","heading":"Public access to governing documents","bodyText":"70.1 The current authoritative Charter, governance rules, certification requirements, scheme conditions, transition notices and public decision routes shall be available without requiring a person to become an applicant, provide unnecessary personal information or purchase an optional service.\n\n70.2 Reasonable copyright and integrity conditions may govern reproduction, but shall not prevent reading, citation and verification of the requirements used for certification.\n\n70.3 Where an indispensable incorporated document is subject to an external fee or access restriction, that dependency and its effect shall be disclosed and a lawful accessible solution shall be sought.\n\n70.4 Technical unavailability shall be acknowledged with an alternative route and shall not justify applying a hidden copy.\n\n70.5 Superseded and withdrawn documents may be placed in an archive rather than the current register view, but their status, applicable period and relationship to later editions shall remain discoverable.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":7000},{"id":"cl-gov-001-71","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"71","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-71","heading":"Annual public governance statement","bodyText":"71.1 ICEQC shall publish a proportionate periodic statement on the operation of its standards governance, ordinarily covering the preceding year.\n\n71.2 The statement shall identify new and revised normative documents, consultations, systematic reviews, corrections and interpretations, material procedural complaints or appeals in aggregate, governance improvement actions, and significant changes to responsible bodies or cooperation arrangements.\n\n71.3 It shall distinguish activity counts from claims of effectiveness and shall explain material limitations in the available information.\n\n71.4 Confidential case information, personal data and legally protected material shall not be disclosed, but protection shall not remove the existence of a systemic issue or corrective commitment necessary for public understanding.\n\n71.5 Publication of the statement does not certify ICEQC or replace independent review; it provides an accountable public record against which later governance development can be understood.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":7100},{"id":"cl-gov-001-72","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"72","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-72","heading":"Corrective publication and reliance protection","bodyText":"72.1 Where ICEQC publishes materially incorrect governance information, it shall correct the source and take proportionate steps to reach persons reasonably likely to have relied on it.\n\n72.2 The correction shall identify what was wrong, the accurate information, the affected period and whether any standard, certification action, deadline or public claim is affected.\n\n72.3 A corrected webpage shall not erase the fact of a material earlier error where historical reliance matters.\n\n72.4 ICEQC shall distinguish an administrative correction from a normative amendment and shall not describe a change of obligation as if it merely repaired presentation.\n\n72.5 If a person acted reasonably on authoritative ICEQC information before correction, the competent authority shall consider fair transitional or remedial treatment consistent with learner protection and certification integrity; reliance shall not create authority for a result that ICEQC was legally incapable of granting.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":7200},{"id":"cl-gov-001-73","parentId":null,"clauseNumber":"73","stableKey":"gov-001-clause-73","heading":"Institutional learning without hidden rulemaking","bodyText":"73.1 Experience from assessments, complaints, appeals, research, support inquiries and stakeholder engagement may inform future improvement of ICEQC governance and standards.\n\n73.2 Such learning shall be aggregated and evaluated so that a recurring issue can be distinguished from an isolated preference or case-specific fact.\n\n73.3 Until a change is formally published and effective, internal lessons, reviewer consensus, frequently asked questions and training updates shall not create an additional requirement for applicants or certified clients.\n\n73.4 Where a recurring interpretation is necessary to achieve consistent decisions, ICEQC shall use the controlled interpretation or revision process and make the result public.\n\n73.5 Improvement activity shall respect personal and confidential information and shall not use an individual case as promotional evidence without a lawful basis and accurate context.","normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","applicabilityRule":null,"evidenceExpectation":null,"sortOrder":7300}],"readerSchemaVersion":"iceqc.controlled-document.reader.v1","readerNodes":[{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-001","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-1","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"1","heading":"Purpose and authority","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-001","depth":1,"normativeKind":"SCOPE","obligationLevel":"INFORMATION","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":10000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-001-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-001","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-1","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"1.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"The ICEQC standards system exists to develop original, transparent and auditable education-quality requirements for voluntary third-party conformity assessment.","anchor":"section-1-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"SCOPE","obligationLevel":"INFORMATION","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":10010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-001-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-001","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-1","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"1.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"This Charter establishes the public principles, institutional authorities and document hierarchy governing that system.","anchor":"section-1-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"SCOPE","obligationLevel":"INFORMATION","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":10020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-001-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-001","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-1","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"1.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC does not exercise governmental regulatory, licensing, accreditation, degree-recognition or academic-equivalency authority.","anchor":"section-1-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"SCOPE","obligationLevel":"INFORMATION","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":10030},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-002","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-2","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"2","heading":"Scope","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-002","depth":1,"normativeKind":"SCOPE","obligationLevel":"INFORMATION","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":20000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-002-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-002","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-2","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"2.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"This Charter applies to every ICEQC standard, certification scheme, applicability module, governance rule, procedure, policy, guidance document, form, register, consultation text, interpretation, amendment, correction and translation.","anchor":"section-2-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"SCOPE","obligationLevel":"INFORMATION","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":20010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-002-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-002","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-2","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"2.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"It also governs the relationship between standard-setting authority, conformity verification, certification decisions, appeals and public certification claims.","anchor":"section-2-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"SCOPE","obligationLevel":"INFORMATION","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":20020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-002-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-002","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-2","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"2.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Where another ICEQC document is inconsistent with this Charter, the Charter prevails unless a later edition of the Charter expressly provides otherwise.","anchor":"section-2-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"SCOPE","obligationLevel":"INFORMATION","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":20030},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-003","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-3","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"3","heading":"Institutional nature and boundaries","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-003","depth":1,"normativeKind":"DEFINITION","obligationLevel":"INFORMATION","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":30000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-003-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-003","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-3","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"3.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC is a non-governmental organization established in Switzerland and operates a voluntary education-quality standards and certification system.","anchor":"section-3-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"DEFINITION","obligationLevel":"INFORMATION","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":30010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-003-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-003","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-3","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"3.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"An ICEQC standard is a document published under ICEQC authority; an ICEQC certificate is a third-party statement limited to the holder, object, scope, edition and period shown in the public register.","anchor":"section-3-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"DEFINITION","obligationLevel":"INFORMATION","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":30020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-003-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-003","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-3","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"3.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Neither publication nor certification confers public-law status, authorization to operate, institutional or programme accreditation, recognition of qualifications, entitlement to public funding, immigration benefit or equivalence with a governmental decision.","anchor":"section-3-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"DEFINITION","obligationLevel":"INFORMATION","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":30030},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-004","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-4","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"4","heading":"Principles of standardization","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-004","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":40000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-004-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-004","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-4","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"4.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC shall conduct standards development in accordance with transparency, openness, impartiality, reasoned consensus, effectiveness, relevance and coherence.","anchor":"section-4-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":40010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-004-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-004","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-4","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"4.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Standards shall address an identified education-quality need, avoid unnecessary duplication, remain proportionate to the risk or outcome concerned and, wherever practicable, specify performance or outcome conditions rather than prescribe a single design or method.","anchor":"section-4-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":40020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-004-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-004","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-4","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"4.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Participation shall not be restricted by nationality, geography or organizational affiliation where the participant has a legitimate interest in the subject.","anchor":"section-4-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":40030},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-005","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-5","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"5","heading":"Public interest and international relevance","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-005","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":50000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-005-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-005","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-5","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"5.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC standards shall take account of learners, families, educators, education providers, public-interest organizations, researchers, purchasers, regulators and other users who may rely on certification information.","anchor":"section-5-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":50010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-005-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-005","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-5","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"5.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"International relevance requires attention to different legal systems, languages, levels of resources, delivery models and stages of educational development.","anchor":"section-5-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":50020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-005-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-005","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-5","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"5.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"A requirement shall not privilege a country, provider type, technology, commercial model or proprietary solution unless an objectively justified public-interest reason is stated in the published document.","anchor":"section-5-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":50030},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-006","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-6","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"6","heading":"Standards architecture and precedence","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-006","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":60000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-006-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-006","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-6","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"6.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"The ICEQC governance series controls the standards system; certification rules control application, evaluation, decision and maintenance of certification; core requirements state common education-quality conditions; certification schemes define the applicable conformity-assessment model; and applicability modules add or select conditions for a defined sector, service or product.","anchor":"section-6-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":60010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-006-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-006","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-6","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"6.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Guidance and research may assist understanding but do not create certification requirements unless a published normative document expressly incorporates a specific provision.","anchor":"section-6-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":60020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-006-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-006","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-6","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"6.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"A more specific document may supplement a higher-level rule but shall not silently disapply or contradict it.","anchor":"section-6-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":60030},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-007","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-7","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"7","heading":"Governing Council","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-007","depth":1,"normativeKind":"DEFINITION","obligationLevel":"INFORMATION","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":70000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-007-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-007","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-7","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"7.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"The ICEQC Governing Council is the final institutional approval authority for controlled public standards and governance documents.","anchor":"section-7-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"DEFINITION","obligationLevel":"INFORMATION","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":70010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-007-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-007","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-7","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"7.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Its approval confirms that the document falls within ICEQC's mandate, has completed the applicable due process, preserves impartiality and public-interest safeguards, and is authorized for publication.","anchor":"section-7-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"DEFINITION","obligationLevel":"INFORMATION","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":70020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-007-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-007","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-7","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"7.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Approval does not permit the Council to waive a published certification requirement for an individual applicant or to replace an independent certification or appeal decision.","anchor":"section-7-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"DEFINITION","obligationLevel":"INFORMATION","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":70030},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-008","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-8","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"8","heading":"Standards Council and responsible technical bodies","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-008","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":80000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-008-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-008","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-8","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"8.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"The ICEQC Standards Council is responsible for the coherence, maintenance and public integrity of the standards system.","anchor":"section-8-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":80010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-008-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-008","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-8","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"8.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"A document record may assign technical responsibility to a defined council, committee or other competent body.","anchor":"section-8-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":80020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-008-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-008","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-8","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"8.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"The responsible body shall act within the scope stated in the document record, consider affected interests and preserve consistency with this Charter.","anchor":"section-8-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":80030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-008-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-008","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-8","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"8.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Technical responsibility does not by itself confer authority to grant, refuse, suspend, withdraw or reinstate an individual certification.","anchor":"section-8-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":80040},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-009","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-9","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"9","heading":"Stakeholder participation and balance","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-009","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":90000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-009-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-009","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-9","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"9.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"Standards development shall provide meaningful opportunities for materially affected interests to submit evidence, comments and reasoned objections.","anchor":"section-9-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":90010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-009-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-009","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-9","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"9.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC shall seek a balance among provider, learner and public-interest, professional, research, regulatory and conformity-assessment perspectives appropriate to the subject.","anchor":"section-9-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":90020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-009-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-009","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-9","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"9.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"No individual organization, funder, commercial interest or stakeholder category shall be permitted to determine an outcome by dominance.","anchor":"section-9-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":90030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-009-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-009","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-9","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"9.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"The number or market position of participants does not replace consideration of the substance of their views.","anchor":"section-9-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":90040},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-010","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-10","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"10","heading":"Impartiality and separation of authority","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-010","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":100000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-010-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-010","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-10","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"10.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"Standard-setting, conformity verification, technical review, certification decision, fee administration and appeal determination are distinct functions.","anchor":"section-10-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":100010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-010-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-010","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-10","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"10.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"A person shall not determine a certification or appeal matter in which that person has an unmanaged financial, employment, advisory, family or other interest.","anchor":"section-10-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":100020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-010-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-010","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-10","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"10.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"The authority that determines an appeal shall not have participated in the original verification, technical review or decision.","anchor":"section-10-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":100030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-010-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-010","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-10","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"10.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Commercial considerations, payment status beyond published contractual conditions, or the prospect of future business shall not influence technical content or conformity conclusions.","anchor":"section-10-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":100040},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-011","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-11","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"11","heading":"Transparency and public accountability","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-011","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":110000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-011-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-011","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-11","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"11.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC shall maintain a public Standards Register identifying the current edition, status, language, publication date, effective date, responsible body and approval authority for every public controlled document.","anchor":"section-11-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":110010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-011-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-011","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-11","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"11.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Proposed standards and substantive revisions shall be announced and consulted on in accordance with ICEQC-GOV-008.","anchor":"section-11-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":110020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-011-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-011","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-11","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"11.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Superseded and withdrawn editions, corrections, transition notices and consultation outcomes shall remain identifiable so that a reader can reconstruct which requirements applied at a stated time.","anchor":"section-11-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":110030},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-012","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-12","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"12","heading":"Due process, complaints and procedural appeals","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-012","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":120000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-012-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-012","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-12","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"12.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"Any person may raise a concern about the integrity, accessibility or stated operation of the ICEQC standards system through the published complaints route.","anchor":"section-12-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":120010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-012-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-012","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-12","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"12.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"A materially affected participant may challenge an alleged failure to follow the published standards-development procedure without being required to prove disagreement with the technical result.","anchor":"section-12-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":120020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-012-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-012","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-12","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"12.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Such a challenge shall be considered by an authority not responsible for the disputed procedural action.","anchor":"section-12-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":120030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-012-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-012","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-12","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"12.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"A procedural appeal may correct process, require reconsideration or require renewed consultation; it shall not be used to secure preferential technical treatment.","anchor":"section-12-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":120040},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-013","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-13","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"13","heading":"Continuity and review of the system","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-013","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":130000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-013-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-013","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-13","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"13.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"The governance system shall remain operable when membership, leadership, technology or organizational arrangements change.","anchor":"section-13-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":130010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-013-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-013","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-13","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"13.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Reserved authorities, document custody and public records attach to the institution and not to an individual office-holder.","anchor":"section-13-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":130020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-013-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-013","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-13","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"13.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"This Charter shall be reviewed at least once every five years and earlier where legal change, material stakeholder concern, a failure of due process, a conflict between controlled documents or a significant change in the certification system indicates that review is necessary.","anchor":"section-13-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":130030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-013-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-013","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-13","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"13.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Review may result in confirmation, amendment, revision or withdrawal.","anchor":"section-13-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":130040},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-014","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-14","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"14","heading":"Interpretation of the institutional mandate","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-014","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":140000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-014-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-014","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-14","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"14.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC shall exercise standards-development and certification authority only within the education-quality purposes stated in its public constitutional and controlled documents.","anchor":"section-14-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":140010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-014-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-014","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-14","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"14.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"The existence of technical expertise, contractual consent or market demand shall not be treated as authority to perform a function reserved by law to a government, regulator, accreditor, licensing body, qualification authority, court or another competent institution.","anchor":"section-14-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":140020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-014-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-014","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-14","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"14.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Where an ICEQC subject overlaps a regulated field, the applicable ICEQC document shall distinguish the education-quality matter it addresses from the legal or specialist determination it does not make, and shall identify any recognized external evidence on which a limited conclusion depends.","anchor":"section-14-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":140030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-014-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-014","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-14","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"14.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"A public reader shall be able to determine from the standard, scheme, certificate and register record both the positive meaning of the ICEQC act and the matters expressly outside it.","anchor":"section-14-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":140040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-014-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-014","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-14","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"14.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Uncertainty about mandate shall be resolved by narrowing or clarifying the ICEQC claim until authority and public meaning are unambiguous; it shall not be resolved by promotional interpretation, contractual wording or a private assurance that enlarges the public effect of certification.","anchor":"section-14-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":140050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-015","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-15","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"15","heading":"Ownership and stewardship of the standards system","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-015","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":150000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-015-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-015","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-15","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"15.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC is the scheme owner and institutional steward of every standard and certification scheme issued in its name, and retains responsibility for their coherence, maintenance, interpretation and controlled public identity.","anchor":"section-15-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":150010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-015-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-015","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-15","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"15.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"A committee, expert, contractor, partner, donor, software provider or external contributor may support development but does not acquire power to issue an ICEQC standard, determine its status or authorize an ICEQC certification claim.","anchor":"section-15-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":150020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-015-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-015","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-15","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"15.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Intellectual contributions shall be accepted on terms that permit lawful publication, maintenance, translation, correction and withdrawal without allowing a contributor to prevent necessary public-interest action.","anchor":"section-15-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":150030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-015-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-015","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-15","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"15.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Stewardship includes preserving the historical record, protecting identifiers and marks, maintaining access to applicable requirements, and ensuring that a successor body or changed organizational structure can identify the authority under which each document was issued.","anchor":"section-15-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":150040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-015-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-015","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-15","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"15.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC shall not describe a document as jointly owned, jointly approved or externally endorsed unless a public instrument accurately establishes that relationship, states its limits and prevents confusion about which organization is responsible for the ICEQC certification decision.","anchor":"section-15-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":150050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-016","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-16","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"16","heading":"Public-interest duty","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-016","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":160000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-016-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-016","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-16","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"16.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"The standards system shall be governed for the reliability of education-quality information and the protection of persons who may reasonably rely on it, with particular attention to learners and other persons exposed to unequal information or power.","anchor":"section-16-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":160010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-016-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-016","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-16","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"16.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"A decision about technical content, publication timing, access, transition or public identity shall consider foreseeable effects on safety, fairness, accessibility, privacy, educational validity and the ability to verify a claim.","anchor":"section-16-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":160020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-016-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-016","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-16","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"16.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"The interests of applicants and certified clients are legitimate stakeholder interests but shall not be treated as identical to the public interest or allowed to override the integrity of a requirement.","anchor":"section-16-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":160030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-016-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-016","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-16","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"16.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Revenue, growth targets, reputational convenience, competitive pressure or the wish to avoid criticism shall not justify weakening a protection, concealing a limitation or delaying a necessary correction.","anchor":"section-16-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":160040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-016-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-016","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-16","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"16.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Where affected interests cannot all be accommodated, the published reasoning shall explain the material interests considered, the protection or outcome given priority and the proportionality of the resulting rule, without disclosing protected personal or confidential information.","anchor":"section-16-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":160050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-017","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-17","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"17","heading":"Learner and beneficiary perspective","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-017","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":170000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-017-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-017","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-17","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"17.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"Standards development shall treat learners and the intended beneficiaries of education as materially affected interests rather than only as subjects of provider evidence.","anchor":"section-17-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":170010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-017-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-017","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-17","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"17.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Participation arrangements shall make it reasonably possible to obtain views concerning information clarity, accessibility, safety, fairness, support, assessment, data use, complaints and the practical effects of proposed requirements.","anchor":"section-17-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":170020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-017-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-017","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-17","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"17.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Where direct participation by children, vulnerable adults or persons requiring support would be inappropriate or unsafe, ICEQC may use lawful representative, advocacy, research or safeguarding-informed methods that preserve the substance of their interests.","anchor":"section-17-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":170030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-017-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-017","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-17","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"17.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"A provider, purchaser or expert shall not be presumed to speak exclusively for learners merely because it serves, employs, studies or regulates them.","anchor":"section-17-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":170040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-017-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-017","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-17","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"17.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Published development information shall describe at a proportionate level how learner and beneficiary interests were considered, any material limitation on participation, and how the final text addresses a sustained concern capable of affecting protection, access or reasonable understanding of certification.","anchor":"section-17-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":170050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-018","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-18","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"18","heading":"Provider and implementer perspective","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-018","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":180000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-018-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-018","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-18","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"18.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"Education providers, technology developers, product manufacturers and other persons expected to implement a proposed requirement shall have a meaningful opportunity to explain feasibility, implementation burden, unintended effects and objectively equivalent means of achieving the intended outcome.","anchor":"section-18-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":180010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-018-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-018","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-18","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"18.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Feasibility evidence shall be considered without converting existing market practice into an automatic ceiling on quality or permitting a dominant provider to define the standard for others.","anchor":"section-18-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":180020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-018-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-018","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-18","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"18.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC shall distinguish a genuine technical, legal, accessibility or resource constraint from a preference to preserve a business model, proprietary method or avoid a necessary protection.","anchor":"section-18-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":180030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-018-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-018","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-18","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"18.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Requirements shall remain achievable by materially different organizational forms and levels of resource where equivalent outcomes can be demonstrated, and any unavoidable restriction shall be supported by published rationale.","anchor":"section-18-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":180040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-018-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-018","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-18","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"18.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"The final text or consultation disposition shall show how substantial implementation concerns were resolved, mitigated, deferred or rejected, while maintaining that conformity is determined against the adopted requirement and not against the influence or negotiating position of a participating provider.","anchor":"section-18-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":180050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-019","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-19","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"19","heading":"Public authorities and regulated matters","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-019","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":190000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-019-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-019","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-19","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"19.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC shall seek informed public-authority or regulatory perspectives where a proposed standard materially intersects education law, safeguarding, consumer protection, accessibility, privacy, product safety, professional licensure or another regulated matter.","anchor":"section-19-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":190010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-019-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-019","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-19","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"19.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Consultation or receipt of information from a public authority does not constitute governmental approval, delegation, recognition or endorsement of ICEQC unless the authority makes a separate express public act within its lawful powers.","anchor":"section-19-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":190020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-019-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-019","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-19","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"19.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC shall not present the absence of regulatory objection as approval and shall not claim that voluntary certification satisfies a legal obligation unless the competent legal source expressly provides that effect.","anchor":"section-19-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":190030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-019-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-019","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-19","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"19.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Where jurisdictions differ, the standard shall identify the common education-quality outcome and preserve the certified client's duty to meet locally applicable law, rather than selecting one jurisdiction's rule as a universal legal conclusion.","anchor":"section-19-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":190040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-019-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-019","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-19","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"19.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"A public note may identify relevant legal interfaces, but legal references shall remain current, accurately scoped and clearly separated from the ICEQC conformity decision.","anchor":"section-19-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":190050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-020","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-20","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"20","heading":"International and cross-border participation","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-020","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":200000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-020-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-020","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-20","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"20.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"Participation in ICEQC standards development shall be open on fair terms to materially affected interests across countries and regions relevant to the proposed document.","anchor":"section-20-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":200010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-020-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-020","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-20","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"20.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC shall consider barriers created by time zone, language, digital access, disability, travel, participation cost and unfamiliarity with standards processes, and shall adopt proportionate arrangements that permit informed contribution without requiring physical presence.","anchor":"section-20-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":200020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-020-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-020","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-20","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"20.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Geographic diversity shall not be measured only by counting countries; it shall consider differences in legal systems, education models, infrastructure, resource conditions, culture and learner population that could change the effect of a requirement.","anchor":"section-20-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":200030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-020-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-020","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-20","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"20.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"A national delegation, government nomination or membership in another standards organization shall not be a prerequisite for participation unless a formally defined cooperative project requires it and equivalent public-comment access remains available.","anchor":"section-20-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":200040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-020-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-020","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-20","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"20.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"The development record shall identify the geographic reach achieved and any material underrepresentation relevant to interpreting the evidence or planning later review, without implying global acceptance merely because a consultation was available online.","anchor":"section-20-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":200050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-021","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-21","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"21","heading":"Balance of materially affected interests","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-021","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":210000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-021-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-021","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-21","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"21.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"The responsible body shall establish and disclose stakeholder categories appropriate to the subject before determining whether participation is balanced.","anchor":"section-21-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":210010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-021-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-021","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-21","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"21.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Balance shall consider the distribution of decision influence, not only the number of registered participants, and shall account for related entities, common funding, coordinated representation and persons occupying more than one interest category.","anchor":"section-21-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":210020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-021-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-021","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-21","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"21.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"No provider, purchaser, profession, government, conformity-assessment interest, funder or other single category shall control the technical result by numerical dominance, procedural privilege or exclusive access to information.","anchor":"section-21-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":210030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-021-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-021","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-21","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"21.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"A temporary imbalance may be managed through additional outreach, independent public-interest review, limitation of voting concentration or another transparent safeguard proportionate to the risk.","anchor":"section-21-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":210040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-021-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-021","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-21","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"21.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"The final development record shall state the categories represented, material gaps, safeguards used and the responsible body's conclusion on whether the resulting process remained credible; it shall not disclose protected personal information or suggest that balance guarantees agreement with every technical outcome.","anchor":"section-21-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":210050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-022","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-22","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"22","heading":"Reasoned consensus","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-022","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":220000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-022-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-022","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-22","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"22.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"Consensus in the ICEQC standards system shall arise from consideration of material views and reasonable efforts to resolve sustained objections, not from silence, exhaustion, pressure to meet a date or a simple count detached from stakeholder balance.","anchor":"section-22-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":220010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-022-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-022","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-22","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"22.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"A reasoned objection shall identify the provision, the interest or outcome affected and sufficient grounds to permit technical consideration; it need not propose exact replacement text to be valid.","anchor":"section-22-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":220020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-022-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-022","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-22","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"22.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"The responsible body may conclude that an objection is resolved, accepted in part, outside scope, unsupported, disproportionate or incapable of accommodation, but shall record enough reasoning to make that conclusion reviewable.","anchor":"section-22-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":220030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-022-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-022","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-22","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"22.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Unanimity is not required, and a participant shall not have a veto merely by maintaining opposition after fair consideration.","anchor":"section-22-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":220040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-022-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-022","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-22","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"22.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Approval information shall identify whether consensus was found, the nature of any unresolved substantial opposition and why the document remains fit for publication, so that readers can distinguish reasoned consensus from a claim of universal agreement or endorsement.","anchor":"section-22-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":220050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-023","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-23","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"23","heading":"Minority views and dissent","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-023","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":230000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-023-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-023","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-23","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"23.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"A minority technical position or dissenting public-interest concern shall not be suppressed, mischaracterized or excluded from the approval record merely because the majority prefers another result.","anchor":"section-23-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":230010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-023-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-023","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-23","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"23.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"The record shall distinguish a sustained substantive objection from an editorial preference, general opposition to the project or a matter outside the approved scope.","anchor":"section-23-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":230020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-023-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-023","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-23","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"23.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Where publication proceeds despite a material objection, the approving authority shall have access to the objection, the response, the stakeholder interest affected and the reason the remaining risk is considered acceptable or subject to later review.","anchor":"section-23-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":230030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-023-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-023","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-23","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"23.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"A public disposition may summarize multiple similar objections but shall preserve materially different reasoning and shall not disclose confidential or personal information unnecessarily.","anchor":"section-23-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":230040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-023-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-023","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-23","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"23.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Recognition of dissent does not create a right to alternative certification treatment, and a published standard shall have one controlled normative effect; however, evidence arising after publication may trigger interpretation, monitoring, amendment or systematic review under the applicable governance rule.","anchor":"section-23-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":230050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-024","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-24","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"24","heading":"Conflicts of interest","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-024","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":240000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-024-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-024","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-24","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"24.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"Every person exercising material influence over standards content, approval, interpretation, certification decision or procedural appeal shall disclose interests that a reasonable observer could regard as capable of affecting impartial judgment.","anchor":"section-24-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":240010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-024-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-024","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-24","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"24.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Relevant interests include employment, ownership, investment, funding, paid advice, litigation, close family relationships, competitive position, recent negotiation and responsibility for a product or method directly affected by the outcome.","anchor":"section-24-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":240020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-024-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-024","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-24","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"24.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Existence of an interest does not automatically disqualify technical participation, because informed perspectives are legitimate, but the interest shall be evaluated and managed through transparency, balanced participation, restricted access, recusal, independent review or another proportionate safeguard.","anchor":"section-24-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":240030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-024-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-024","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-24","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"24.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"A person shall not determine the adequacy of the management of that person's own material conflict.","anchor":"section-24-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":240040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-024-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-024","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-24","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"24.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Public governance information shall describe the categories of conflict controls and any recusal materially affecting authority, while protecting personal data and legitimately confidential financial details; absence of a published name shall not be represented as absence of accountability.","anchor":"section-24-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":240050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-025","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-25","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"25","heading":"Financial impartiality","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-025","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":250000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-025-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-025","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-25","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"25.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"The availability, timing and content of an ICEQC standard and the outcome of an ICEQC certification or appeal shall not depend on a person's purchase of consulting, training, membership, sponsorship, software, assessment preparation or another optional service.","anchor":"section-25-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":250010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-025-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-025","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-25","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"25.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Fees may support lawful standards and certification activities, but their structure and administration shall not create a financial incentive for a technical body, assessor, reviewer or decision maker to weaken requirements or reach a preferred case outcome.","anchor":"section-25-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":250020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-025-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-025","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-25","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"25.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"No contributor or certified client shall receive undisclosed technical influence in exchange for revenue, referrals, market access or future business.","anchor":"section-25-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":250030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-025-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-025","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-25","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"25.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Material financial dependencies capable of affecting confidence in a project shall be declared to the impartiality or approval authority and managed before publication.","anchor":"section-25-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":250040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-025-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-025","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-25","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"25.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Public fee and sponsorship statements shall be sufficiently clear to distinguish payment for access or service from authority, recognition, endorsement or a right to certification, and non-payment shall affect a technical matter only where a published contractual condition lawfully makes it relevant.","anchor":"section-25-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":250050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-026","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-26","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"26","heading":"Sponsorship, grants and in-kind support","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-026","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":260000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-026-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-026","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-26","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"26.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC may accept sponsorship, grants, donated expertise, hosting, translation support, data or other in-kind assistance only where the arrangement preserves independent technical judgment and the ICEQC-only public identity of the resulting work.","anchor":"section-26-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":260010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-026-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-026","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-26","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"26.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"The terms shall not give the supporter a veto, exclusive drafting access, preferred certification treatment, control of consultation, advance commercial use, or a claim that support constitutes approval of either party by the other.","anchor":"section-26-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":260020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-026-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-026","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-26","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"26.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Material support for a public standards project shall be disclosed in a manner that identifies the nature of support and any relevant safeguard without revealing protected contractual details.","anchor":"section-26-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":260030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-026-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-026","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-26","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"26.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Content derived from supported research shall be evaluated on its quality and relevance rather than the status of the funder.","anchor":"section-26-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":260040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-026-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-026","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-26","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"26.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"If support is withdrawn, ICEQC shall determine whether the project can continue with integrity, requires a changed timetable or should be discontinued, and shall not retain technically unjustified wording merely to preserve the relationship or avoid acknowledging the change.","anchor":"section-26-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":260050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-027","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-27","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"27","heading":"Appointment and tenure of governance participants","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-027","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":270000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-027-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-027","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-27","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"27.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"Appointments to the Governing Council, Standards Council and responsible technical bodies shall be made under publicly intelligible authority, eligibility and tenure principles that support competence, continuity, diversity and impartiality.","anchor":"section-27-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":270010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-027-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-027","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-27","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"27.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"An appointment shall identify the body, role, commencement, duration or review point, and any voting or reserved authority attached to it; honorary, advisory and observer roles shall not be presented as decision authority.","anchor":"section-27-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":270020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-027-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-027","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-27","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"27.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Removal, resignation, expiry or incapacity shall not invalidate prior authorized institutional acts solely because membership later changes, but a decision made without the required authority or quorum remains subject to procedural review.","anchor":"section-27-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":270030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-027-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-027","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-27","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"27.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Reappointment shall not be automatic where it would entrench dominance, unmanaged conflict or dependency.","anchor":"section-27-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":270040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-027-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-027","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-27","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"27.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Public governance information shall identify current bodies and accountable leadership at a proportionate level, historical changes necessary to understand document approvals, and the institutional route by which vacancies or temporary absences are addressed without transferring authority informally.","anchor":"section-27-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":270050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-028","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-28","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"28","heading":"Collective competence","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-028","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":280000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-028-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-028","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-28","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"28.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"A governance or technical body shall collectively possess competence appropriate to the decisions assigned to it, including knowledge of education quality, relevant sectors, conformity assessment, standards drafting, learner and public interests, legal and ethical boundaries, accessibility, evidence evaluation and international application.","anchor":"section-28-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":280010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-028-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-028","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-28","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"28.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Collective competence does not require every member to be expert in every subject, but the body shall recognize when independent specialist input is necessary and shall not treat general reputation as a substitute for relevant knowledge.","anchor":"section-28-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":280020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-028-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-028","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-28","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"28.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"A specialist may advise without becoming a decision maker, and reliance on advice shall not transfer accountability from the authorized body.","anchor":"section-28-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":280030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-028-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-028","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-28","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"28.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Competence considerations shall include the ability to understand minority evidence, conflicts between jurisdictions, digital and multilingual effects, and the limits of ICEQC authority.","anchor":"section-28-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":280040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-028-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-028","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-28","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"28.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Public records shall identify the competence basis in aggregate or by role sufficiently to support confidence, while personal qualifications, private evaluations and protected data need not be disclosed beyond what is necessary for accountability.","anchor":"section-28-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":280050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-029","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-29","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"29","heading":"Experts, observers and invited contributors","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-029","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":290000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-029-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-029","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-29","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"29.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"A responsible body may obtain assistance from experts, observers, liaison representatives, invited contributors and persons with lived experience where this improves the relevance or legitimacy of its work.","anchor":"section-29-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":290010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-029-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-029","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-29","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"29.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Their status, access and influence shall be distinguishable from formal decision authority, and participation shall be subject to applicable confidentiality, conduct, rights and conflict-of-interest safeguards.","anchor":"section-29-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":290020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-029-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-029","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-29","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"29.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"An expert opinion shall be evaluated with other evidence and shall not become binding merely because the expert holds a prominent title, represents a public authority or authored a source document.","anchor":"section-29-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":290030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-029-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-029","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-29","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"29.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Observers shall not be used to create an appearance of endorsement by their employers or organizations.","anchor":"section-29-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":290040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-029-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-029","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-29","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"29.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Where an invited contributor supplies material text, data or methodology, the development record shall preserve provenance and rights sufficient for review and future maintenance, and the final document shall remain an ICEQC institutional act rather than a personal or external publication.","anchor":"section-29-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":290050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-030","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-30","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"30","heading":"Delegation of authority","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-030","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":300000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-030-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-030","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-30","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"30.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"An ICEQC body may delegate a function only where the delegating authority possesses that function, the delegation is permitted by the controlling document, and the scope, recipient, duration, conditions and reporting relationship are clear.","anchor":"section-30-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":300010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-030-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-030","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-30","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"30.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Delegation shall not be inferred from access to a system, performance of administrative work, use of a title, prior custom or absence of objection.","anchor":"section-30-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":300020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-030-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-030","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-30","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"30.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"A delegated person or body shall act within the stated boundaries and shall not further delegate a reserved function unless expressly authorized.","anchor":"section-30-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":300030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-030-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-030","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-30","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"30.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"The delegating body retains institutional accountability and shall remain able to review whether the delegation operates as intended, without reopening an individual independent decision merely because it dislikes the result.","anchor":"section-30-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":300040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-030-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-030","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-30","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"30.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Public records shall identify delegation where knowledge of the decision authority is material to the validity or meaning of a standard, interpretation, publication, certification or appeal outcome.","anchor":"section-30-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":300050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-031","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-31","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"31","heading":"Reserved institutional decisions","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-031","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":310000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-031-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-031","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-31","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"31.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"Approval of the Standards System Charter, authorization of a new normative document family, final approval of a public normative standard, withdrawal of the complete certification system, and alteration of the institutional meaning of ICEQC certification are reserved to the ICEQC Governing Council unless a later public Charter lawfully assigns the function elsewhere.","anchor":"section-31-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":310010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-031-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-031","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-31","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"31.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"The Standards Council or responsible technical body may develop, review and recommend such action but shall not represent recommendation as final approval.","anchor":"section-31-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":310020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-031-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-031","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-31","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"31.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Administrative publication authority may confirm identity and release of an already approved text but shall not change its normative content.","anchor":"section-31-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":310030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-031-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-031","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-31","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"31.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"A reserved decision shall identify the authority, subject, date, effect and any condition or transition necessary for public understanding.","anchor":"section-31-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":310040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-031-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-031","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-31","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"31.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Emergency delegation shall not be used to make a permanent constitutional change without the later process and approval required for that change.","anchor":"section-31-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":310050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-032","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-32","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"32","heading":"Separation from certification assessment","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-032","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":320000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-032-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-032","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-32","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"32.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"Participation in developing or approving a standard shall not by itself authorize a person to assess an applicant, conduct technical review or make a certification decision under that standard.","anchor":"section-32-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":320010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-032-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-032","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-32","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"32.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Where a standards participant also performs a certification function, competence and impartiality shall be established for the separate role and any interest arising from authorship, consultancy, training or prior involvement shall be managed.","anchor":"section-32-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":320020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-032-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-032","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-32","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"32.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"A person shall not use privileged knowledge of unpublished drafting intention to impose a condition absent from the published text.","anchor":"section-32-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":320030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-032-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-032","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-32","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"32.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Questions arising in an assessment shall be determined through the applicable certification and interpretation rules, not through private access to a drafter.","anchor":"section-32-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":320040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-032-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-032","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-32","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"32.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Public certification information shall preserve ICEQC responsibility for the decision and shall not suggest that a named standards contributor personally approved the certified client or guarantees the application of the document.","anchor":"section-32-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":320050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-033","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-33","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"33","heading":"Separation of appeal authority","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-033","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":330000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-033-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-033","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-33","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"33.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"A person or body deciding a procedural appeal or certification appeal shall be independent of the action under challenge and shall have no responsibility to defend the original outcome as an institutional or personal interest.","anchor":"section-33-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":330010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-033-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-033","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-33","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"33.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Prior general participation in adopting a standard does not alone preclude interpretation of that standard on appeal, but direct involvement in the disputed assessment, technical review, decision, complaint handling or procedural act shall preclude determination of the same matter.","anchor":"section-33-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":330020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-033-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-033","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-33","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"33.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Appointment, information access and support arrangements shall preserve the appeal authority's ability to review the complete relevant record without direction from commercial or original decision functions.","anchor":"section-33-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":330030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-033-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-033","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-33","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"33.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"The public decision shall identify the appeal authority, jurisdiction, conclusion and sufficient reasons, subject to lawful confidentiality.","anchor":"section-33-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":330040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-033-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-033","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-33","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"33.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"An appeal outcome may correct or remit a decision within its scope but shall not privately amend the standard for all other persons.","anchor":"section-33-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":330050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-034","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-34","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"34","heading":"Freedom to raise integrity concerns","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-034","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":340000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-034-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-034","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-34","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"34.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"A participant, employee, contractor, applicant, certified client, learner or other affected person shall be able to raise a good-faith concern about standards integrity, misleading certification identity, conflict of interest, procedural failure or misuse of authority through an accessible published route.","anchor":"section-34-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":340010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-034-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-034","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-34","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"34.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"The route shall permit the person to explain the subject and supporting information without being required to characterize it correctly as a complaint, appeal, disclosure or technical comment before ICEQC determines the appropriate jurisdiction.","anchor":"section-34-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":340020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-034-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-034","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-34","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"34.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Confidentiality may be provided to the extent lawful and compatible with fair determination, but anonymity shall not be promised where disclosure is necessary to protect a person, answer an allegation or comply with law.","anchor":"section-34-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":340030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-034-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-034","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-34","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"34.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"A concern shall not be rejected solely because it is critical, inconvenient, submitted in non-technical language or raised by a person without membership or commercial relationship.","anchor":"section-34-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":340040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-034-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-034","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-34","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"34.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"The existence of the route does not validate every allegation, and any resulting adverse institutional or certification action shall be made only by the competent authority under the applicable due process.","anchor":"section-34-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":340050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-035","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-35","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"35","heading":"Protection against retaliation","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-035","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":350000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-035-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-035","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-35","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"35.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"No person shall suffer retaliation by ICEQC for making a good-faith standards comment, objection, complaint, appeal, integrity disclosure or request for correction, or for declining to support a proposed consensus.","anchor":"section-35-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":350010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-035-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-035","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-35","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"35.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Retaliation includes improper exclusion, threat, unfavorable certification treatment, disclosure intended to cause harm, withdrawal of an unrelated opportunity or pressure to abandon a legitimate concern.","anchor":"section-35-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":350020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-035-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-035","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-35","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"35.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"This protection does not prevent proportionate action concerning abusive conduct, deliberate falsehood, unlawful disclosure, harassment or a conflict that genuinely affects participation, provided the action is based on the conduct and not the protected disagreement.","anchor":"section-35-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":350030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-035-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-035","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-35","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"35.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"A person alleging retaliation shall have access to a review independent of the function concerned.","anchor":"section-35-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":350040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-035-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-035","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-35","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"35.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Where retaliation is substantiated, corrective action shall address both the individual effect and any systemic condition capable of discouraging future participation, while publication shall be limited to information necessary for accountability and lawful protection.","anchor":"section-35-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":350050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-036","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-36","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"36","heading":"Compliance with applicable law","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-036","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":360000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-036-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-036","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-36","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"36.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC standards shall be drafted and governed on the premise that applicable law continues to apply independently of voluntary certification.","anchor":"section-36-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":360010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-036-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-036","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-36","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"36.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"A standard may establish a higher or more specific education-quality condition where lawful, but shall not instruct a person to breach a legal obligation or imply that conformity resolves every jurisdictional requirement.","anchor":"section-36-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":360020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-036-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-036","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-36","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"36.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Where legal rules materially differ, the document shall state the common requirement and provide a controlled method for recognizing jurisdiction-specific obligations without purporting to give universal legal advice.","anchor":"section-36-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":360030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-036-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-036","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-36","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"36.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Discovery of a credible conflict between an ICEQC provision and applicable law shall trigger prompt review, risk containment and, where necessary, correction, amendment, interpretation, transition or suspension of the affected provision.","anchor":"section-36-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":360040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-036-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-036","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-36","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"36.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Public wording shall distinguish a legal reference, an ICEQC requirement and evidence of legal compliance so that an ICEQC finding is not misrepresented as a judgment by a court or regulator.","anchor":"section-36-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":360050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-037","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-37","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"37","heading":"Intellectual-property integrity","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-037","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":370000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-037-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-037","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-37","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"37.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"The standards system shall respect copyright, trademark, patent, database, confidentiality and other applicable rights while preserving public access to the complete ICEQC certification basis.","anchor":"section-37-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":370010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-037-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-037","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-37","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"37.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC shall not reproduce protected material without permission, remove attribution required by law, or use a proprietary source in a way that falsely implies authorship or endorsement.","anchor":"section-37-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":370020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-037-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-037","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-37","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"37.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"A known patent or licensing condition necessary to implement a requirement shall be considered for accessibility, competition, proportionality and availability of equivalent means before approval, and a material unavoidable dependency shall be publicly disclosed.","anchor":"section-37-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":370030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-037-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-037","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-37","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"37.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"A rights claim raised after publication shall be reviewed without silently deleting or altering the controlled text; any correction, replacement or restriction shall be recorded under the document-control rules.","anchor":"section-37-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":370040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-037-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-037","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-37","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"37.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Protection of source material shall not be used to conceal a normative threshold, interpretation or method that affected persons must know to understand what certification requires.","anchor":"section-37-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":370050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-038","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-38","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"38","heading":"Privacy and responsible information use","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-038","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":380000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-038-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-038","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-38","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"38.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"Standards governance shall collect, use, disclose and retain personal information only for legitimate, stated purposes proportionate to participation, decision, integrity and record needs.","anchor":"section-38-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":380010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-038-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-038","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-38","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"38.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Public consultation and governance transparency shall not require unnecessary publication of personal contact details, sensitive characteristics, confidential employment information or identifiable learner data.","anchor":"section-38-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":380020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-038-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-038","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-38","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"38.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"A contributor shall be told at a reasonable level how a submission and identity may be used, including whether comments or affiliations may be published, and shall be given a route to identify legitimately confidential material.","anchor":"section-38-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":380030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-038-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-038","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-38","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"38.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Privacy shall not be invoked to conceal institutional authority, unmanaged conflict, source provenance material to technical trust or the reasons for a public decision where disclosure can occur without unnecessary personal data.","anchor":"section-38-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":380040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-038-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-038","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-38","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"38.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"A material information incident affecting the fairness or reliability of standards development shall be addressed through the applicable accountability and correction routes and shall not be hidden solely to avoid reputational impact.","anchor":"section-38-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":380050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-039","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-39","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"39","heading":"Information security and authenticity","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-039","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":390000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-039-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-039","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-39","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"39.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC shall protect the authenticity, integrity and availability of controlled standards records in proportion to the risk of unauthorized change, loss, impersonation or misleading public use.","anchor":"section-39-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":390010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-039-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-039","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-39","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"39.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"An approved text, decision record, consultation submission, vote or consensus record, content hash and publication event shall be protected against alteration that cannot be detected or attributed.","anchor":"section-39-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":390020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-039-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-039","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-39","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"39.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Security controls shall preserve access and due process and shall not create a secret normative version available only to privileged users.","anchor":"section-39-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":390030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-039-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-039","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-39","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"39.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Where a material compromise is suspected, ICEQC shall identify the affected records, state any uncertainty relevant to public reliance, preserve available evidence and issue a controlled confirmation, correction or replacement as appropriate.","anchor":"section-39-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":390040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-039-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-039","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-39","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"39.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"A technical service provider may support security but shall not determine document authority or normative content, and failure or change of a particular platform shall not erase the institutional record or transfer custody of ICEQC standards.","anchor":"section-39-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":390050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-040","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-40","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"40","heading":"Accessibility of governance participation","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-040","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":400000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-040-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-040","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-40","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"40.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"Public standards information and participation opportunities shall be designed so that disability does not create an avoidable barrier to obtaining a draft, understanding status, submitting a comment or reading an outcome.","anchor":"section-40-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":400010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-040-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-040","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-40","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"40.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Documents shall use accessible structure, meaningful headings, machine-readable text, alternatives to material visual information and sufficient contrast and navigation in the controlled publication formats.","anchor":"section-40-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":400020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-040-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-040","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-40","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"40.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Where a standard-development activity uses a meeting, video, form or platform, ICEQC shall provide reasonable accessible alternatives or adjustments appropriate to the participation offered and information requested.","anchor":"section-40-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":400030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-040-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-040","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-40","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"40.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Accessibility needs shall not reduce the weight of a substantive contribution or require disclosure beyond what is necessary to arrange support.","anchor":"section-40-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":400040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-040-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-040","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-40","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"40.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"A temporary technical limitation shall be stated and remedied through another meaningful route; it shall not be treated as consent, lack of interest or a reason to close a consultation before an affected person can participate.","anchor":"section-40-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":400050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-041","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-41","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"41","heading":"Language access in governance","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-041","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":410000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-041-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-041","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-41","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"41.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"English may serve as the authoritative language of the ICEQC governance system, but language difference shall be considered when designing international participation and public explanation.","anchor":"section-41-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":410010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-041-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-041","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-41","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"41.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC may provide controlled or informative translations, multilingual summaries, terminology aids or translated comment routes where this materially improves access, provided their status and precedence are clear.","anchor":"section-41-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":410020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-041-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-041","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-41","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"41.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"A comment shall not receive less substantive consideration merely because it is submitted in another accepted language or requires translation.","anchor":"section-41-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":410030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-041-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-041","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-41","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"41.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Machine translation may assist access but shall not be treated as a reliable resolution of disputed normative meaning without competent review.","anchor":"section-41-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":410040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-041-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-041","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-41","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"41.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Where consultation is conducted only in English, the development record shall not imply that all affected language communities were equally represented, and later evidence of a material translation or cultural interpretation issue shall be capable of triggering controlled clarification or review.","anchor":"section-41-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":410050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-042","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-42","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"42","heading":"Digital equality and technology neutrality","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-042","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":420000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-042-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-042","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-42","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"42.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"The standards system may use digital publication, consultation and verification, but participation and public reliance shall not depend unnecessarily on a proprietary device, paid account, closed platform or technology unavailable to a material part of the affected community.","anchor":"section-42-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":420010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-042-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-042","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-42","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"42.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"A controlled digital reader shall preserve the complete authoritative text, stable identifiers, status and accessible means of citation, while downloadable or alternative representations shall make the same normative meaning available.","anchor":"section-42-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":420020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-042-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-042","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-42","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"42.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Automated tools may support search, comparison, completeness checks and aggregation but shall not secretly draft, approve, reinterpret or change a normative requirement.","anchor":"section-42-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":420030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-042-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-042","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-42","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"42.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Where automated analysis materially informs development, the responsible body shall understand its limitations and retain accountable human judgment.","anchor":"section-42-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":420040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-042-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-042","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-42","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"42.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"A change of technology shall preserve document identity, historical links, public records and the ability to verify which content was approved; a convenient interface shall not become a separate source of authority.","anchor":"section-42-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":420050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-043","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-43","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"43","heading":"Public standards work programme","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-043","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":430000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-043-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-043","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-43","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"43.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC shall maintain a public work programme identifying planned new standards, substantive revisions and systematic reviews sufficiently early for interested persons to anticipate participation.","anchor":"section-43-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":430010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-043-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-043","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-43","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"43.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"For each active project, the programme shall identify the subject, intended document or family, responsible body, current development stage, expected consultation opportunity and a reasonable indication of timing, while making clear that schedules may change.","anchor":"section-43-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":430020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-043-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-043","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-43","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"43.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Discontinued, merged or materially re-scoped projects shall remain traceable with a short explanation so that earlier notices do not continue to imply an expected publication.","anchor":"section-43-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":430030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-043-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-043","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-43","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"43.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"The programme shall distinguish normative standards work from research, guidance, certification casework and internal administrative improvement.","anchor":"section-43-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":430040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-043-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-043","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-43","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"43.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Absence of a project from the programme shall not be used to deny that a published emergency action occurred, but any permitted emergency departure shall be identified and reviewed under the expedited procedure rather than retrospectively presented as ordinary planned work.","anchor":"section-43-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":430050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-044","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-44","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"44","heading":"Governance record","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-044","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":440000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-044-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-044","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-44","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"44.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"Each standards project and material governance decision shall have a controlled record capable of showing the authority, applicable procedure, principal evidence, participation opportunity, comments and objections, conflict safeguards, recommendation, reviews, approval, final content identity and publication or other outcome.","anchor":"section-44-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":440010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-044-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-044","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-44","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"44.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"The record shall be sufficiently complete for a competent person independent of the original activity to determine whether the published due process was followed, without requiring reconstruction from personal memory or informal correspondence.","anchor":"section-44-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":440020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-044-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-044","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-44","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"44.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Public and protected components may be separated, but their existence, relationship and retention status shall remain controlled.","anchor":"section-44-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":440030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-044-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-044","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-44","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"44.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"A record shall distinguish contemporaneous evidence from a later explanation and shall not be rewritten to create an appearance that an omitted action occurred.","anchor":"section-44-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":440040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-044-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-044","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-44","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"44.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Retention shall reflect the continuing life of the document, historical certification reliance, legal obligations and the period in which a procedural challenge may reasonably arise.","anchor":"section-44-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":440050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-045","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-45","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"45","heading":"Transparency of meetings and decisions","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-045","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":450000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-045-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-045","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-45","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"45.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"Where a meeting materially contributes to technical consensus, approval or resolution of a substantial objection, its date, purpose, participating interest categories, authority and resulting decisions shall be recorded.","anchor":"section-45-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":450010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-045-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-045","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-45","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"45.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Transparency does not require public livestreaming or verbatim disclosure of all deliberation, and protected personal, security, legal or commercially confidential information may be withheld.","anchor":"section-45-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":450020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-045-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-045","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-45","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"45.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"The public record shall nevertheless permit readers to understand what institutional body acted, what issue was decided and how that action relates to the published document.","anchor":"section-45-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":450030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-045-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-045","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-45","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"45.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Informal discussions, workshops and bilateral meetings may inform understanding but shall not be used to make an undisclosed decision or give selected interests an exclusive opportunity to change normative text.","anchor":"section-45-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":450040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-045-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-045","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-45","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"45.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"A correction to a meeting or decision record shall preserve the original entry, identify the reason and shall not retroactively alter a vote, attendance or authority without due-process review.","anchor":"section-45-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":450050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-046","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-46","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"46","heading":"Consultation and disposition register","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-046","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":460000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-046-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-046","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-46","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"46.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"For each public consultation on a normative document, ICEQC shall maintain a register identifying the consultation text and hash or equivalent identity, opening and closing dates, accepted submission methods, language arrangements, number and broad categories of responses, and the location of the public disposition.","anchor":"section-46-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":460010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-046-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-046","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-46","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"46.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"The register shall not exaggerate participation by counting duplicate or automated submissions as distinct substantive support, and shall not treat absence of comments as affirmative consensus.","anchor":"section-46-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":460020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-046-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-046","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-46","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"46.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"A disposition shall connect each material issue to the responsible body's response and resulting change or reason for retaining the text.","anchor":"section-46-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":460030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-046-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-046","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-46","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"46.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Personal data, confidential evidence and abusive content may be redacted, but redaction shall not remove the technical proposition necessary to understand the response.","anchor":"section-46-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":460040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-046-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-046","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-46","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"46.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"The register shall remain associated with the resulting edition so that later readers can distinguish the consultation history of one edition from another.","anchor":"section-46-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":460050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-047","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-47","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"47","heading":"Published interpretations","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-047","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":470000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-047-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-047","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-47","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"47.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"An interpretation affecting the consistent understanding of a normative provision shall be issued only through the authority and change classification established by ICEQC-GOV-006.","anchor":"section-47-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":470010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-047-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-047","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-47","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"47.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"It shall identify the document, edition, clause, question, conclusion, reasons, approving authority, date and effect on existing and future application.","anchor":"section-47-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":470020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-047-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-047","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-47","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"47.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"An interpretation shall explain existing text and shall not add a new requirement, exception, threshold, evidence form or scope condition that a reasonable reader could not derive from the published provision.","anchor":"section-47-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":470030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-047-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-047","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-47","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"47.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Private advice, webinar statements, training materials, assessor opinions and correspondence are not authoritative interpretations.","anchor":"section-47-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":470040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-047-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-047","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-47","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"47.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Where the text cannot support a reliable common conclusion without adding meaning, ICEQC shall use an amendment or new edition with appropriate consultation and transition rather than describe the new rule as interpretation.","anchor":"section-47-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":470050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-048","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-48","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"48","heading":"Emergency governance action","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-048","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":480000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-048-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-048","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-48","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"48.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC may take a temporary emergency governance action where delay presents a credible material risk to learners, the public, legal compliance, information integrity, impartiality or the reliability of certification.","anchor":"section-48-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":480010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-048-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-048","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-48","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"48.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"The action shall be authorized by a body competent for the affected function, limited in subject and duration, and accompanied by a public notice stating the risk, authority, immediate effect, affected documents or claims and expected review.","anchor":"section-48-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":480020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-048-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-048","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-48","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"48.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Emergency authority shall not be used to bypass consultation for convenience, accelerate a commercial launch, suppress criticism or make a permanent expansion of institutional mandate.","anchor":"section-48-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":480030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-048-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-048","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-48","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"48.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Protected details may be withheld where disclosure would increase harm, but enough information shall be available to explain the legal and institutional basis.","anchor":"section-48-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":480040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-048-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-048","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-48","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"48.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"The action shall be reviewed promptly and shall lapse, be confirmed through ordinary due process, or be replaced by a controlled amendment, withdrawal or transition decision.","anchor":"section-48-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":480050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-049","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-49","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"49","heading":"Conflict between controlled documents","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-049","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":490000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-049-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-049","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-49","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"49.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"When ICEQC identifies an actual or credible conflict between controlled documents, it shall determine the affected provisions, editions, scopes and possible conformity consequences before advising reliance on either text.","anchor":"section-49-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":490010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-049-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-049","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-49","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"49.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"The hierarchy in this Charter governs pending correction, but a general precedence rule shall not be used to conceal uncertainty where two texts could reasonably produce different outcomes.","anchor":"section-49-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":490020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-049-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-049","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-49","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"49.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC shall publish a notice or interpretation sufficient to prevent adverse reliance, identify whether certification activity must pause or use a protective assumption, and initiate the appropriate correction, amendment or revision.","anchor":"section-49-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":490030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-049-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-049","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-49","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"49.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"A lower-level document cannot amend a higher-level rule merely because it is later or more detailed unless the higher-level document expressly permits that effect.","anchor":"section-49-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":490040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-049-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-049","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-49","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"49.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Resolution shall preserve historical traceability and shall not retrospectively convert conduct into nonconformity under a requirement that was materially unclear at the relevant time.","anchor":"section-49-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":490050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-050","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-50","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"50","heading":"Governance nonconformity and corrective action","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-050","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":500000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-050-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-050","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-50","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"50.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"A substantiated failure by ICEQC to follow a published governance requirement shall be treated as a governance nonconformity and shall not be hidden by reclassifying the affected act as informal or administrative.","anchor":"section-50-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":500010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-050-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-050","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-50","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"50.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC shall determine the nature, extent, cause and public effect of the failure; contain any continuing risk; correct affected records or actions where possible; and address the cause in proportion to recurrence and impact.","anchor":"section-50-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":500020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-050-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-050","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-50","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"50.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"The remedy may include renewed review, restored participation opportunity, reconsultation, corrected publication, withdrawal, independent oversight or confirmation that the failure did not affect normative validity, with reasons.","anchor":"section-50-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":500030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-050-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-050","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-50","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"50.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Governance corrective action shall be separate from an applicant's certification finding and shall not be assigned to a certified client.","anchor":"section-50-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":500040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-050-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-050","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-50","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"50.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Public disclosure shall be sufficient to protect reliance and explain any change in status while respecting lawful confidentiality and the fairness of ongoing proceedings.","anchor":"section-50-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":500050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-051","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-51","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"51","heading":"Complaints about the standards system","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-051","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":510000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-051-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-051","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-51","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"51.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"Any person may submit a complaint concerning accessibility, conduct, conflict management, misleading communication, failure to consider a comment, misuse of identity or another aspect of the standards system.","anchor":"section-51-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":510010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-051-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-051","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-51","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"51.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC shall make the route, scope, expected stages, confidentiality approach and possible outcomes publicly understandable and shall direct a misclassified submission to the appropriate process where reasonably possible.","anchor":"section-51-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":510020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-051-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-051","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-51","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"51.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Complaint handling shall be impartial and shall give a person whose conduct is materially criticized a fair opportunity to respond before an adverse conclusion, subject to protective measures where risk requires.","anchor":"section-51-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":510030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-051-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-051","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-51","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"51.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"The outcome shall state the issue, applicable rule, information considered, conclusion, reasons and any corrective or referral action.","anchor":"section-51-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":510040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-051-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-051","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-51","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"51.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"A complaint does not automatically suspend a standard or certification, but the competent authority may impose a proportionate interim protection where continued reliance could cause material harm.","anchor":"section-51-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":510050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-052","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-52","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"52","heading":"Procedural appeals concerning standards development","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-052","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":520000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-052-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-052","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-52","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"52.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"A materially affected participant may appeal a final determination that ICEQC failed to follow a published standards-development procedure in a manner capable of affecting fair participation, authority or the resulting document.","anchor":"section-52-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":520010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-052-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-052","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-52","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"52.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"The appeal shall be decided by a person or panel independent of the disputed action and competent to evaluate the procedural record.","anchor":"section-52-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":520020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-052-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-052","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-52","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"52.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Review may consider notice, access, balance, conflict management, comment disposition, consensus, required approvals and publication identity, but shall not replace technical judgment merely because the appellant prefers another requirement.","anchor":"section-52-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":520030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-052-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-052","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-52","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"52.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"A successful appeal may require correction, reconsideration, renewed consultation, a new approval decision, temporary status qualification or withdrawal of the affected publication.","anchor":"section-52-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":520040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-052-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-052","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-52","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"52.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"The public outcome shall explain the procedural conclusion and effect while protecting personal and confidential information, and shall identify any further route or finality rule that applies.","anchor":"section-52-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":520050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-053","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-53","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"53","heading":"Monitoring the effectiveness of governance","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-053","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":530000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-053-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-053","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-53","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"53.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC shall monitor whether the standards system operates consistently with transparency, openness, impartiality, consensus, relevance, coherence and public verifiability.","anchor":"section-53-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":530010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-053-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-053","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-53","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"53.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Monitoring shall consider participation patterns, unresolved objections, complaint and appeal themes, correction frequency, translation discrepancies, broken references, conflicting interpretations, transition outcomes and evidence that standards create unintended exclusion or cannot support consistent conformity decisions.","anchor":"section-53-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":530020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-053-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-053","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-53","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"53.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Counts alone shall not be treated as proof of quality; absence of complaints may indicate either effective governance or inaccessible routes.","anchor":"section-53-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":530030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-053-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-053","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-53","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"53.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Findings shall inform systematic review, competence development, procedural amendment and public explanation as appropriate.","anchor":"section-53-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":530040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-053-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-053","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-53","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"53.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Aggregate results and material improvement decisions shall be disclosed at a level that supports accountability without exposing protected case information or converting internal performance monitoring into a public certification claim about ICEQC itself.","anchor":"section-53-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":530050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-054","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-54","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"54","heading":"Independent review of the governance system","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-054","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":540000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-054-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-054","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-54","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"54.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"The Governing Council shall arrange periodic review of the governance system by persons who are sufficiently independent of routine standards-development and certification decisions to provide credible challenge.","anchor":"section-54-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":540010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-054-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-054","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-54","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"54.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Review shall consider whether public rules are complete, internally consistent, actually followed and suitable for the scale, geography, technology and risk of ICEQC activity.","anchor":"section-54-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":540020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-054-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-054","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-54","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"54.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"The reviewers shall have access to representative public and protected records under appropriate confidentiality and shall be free to identify systemic weakness, even where no individual decision has been overturned.","anchor":"section-54-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":540030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-054-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-054","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-54","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"54.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"The review outcome shall identify scope, independence safeguards, principal conclusions, material corrective commitments and the responsible authority for follow-up.","anchor":"section-54-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":540040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-054-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-054","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-54","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"54.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Publication may summarize sensitive findings, but shall not omit a material qualification necessary to understand whether the governance system remains fit for purpose.","anchor":"section-54-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":540050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-055","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-55","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"55","heading":"Cooperation and liaison arrangements","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-055","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":550000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-055-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-055","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-55","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"55.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC may cooperate with standards bodies, education organizations, research institutions, public authorities, professional associations, consumer or learner groups and other entities where cooperation advances education quality and remains within ICEQC authority.","anchor":"section-55-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":550010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-055-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-055","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-55","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"55.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"A public arrangement shall identify its purpose, parties, duration, governance, intellectual-property position and any effect on participation or document development.","anchor":"section-55-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":550020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-055-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-055","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-55","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"55.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Cooperation shall not give either party authority to speak for, approve, certify or bind the other beyond the express arrangement, and shall not create preferential certification access or hidden normative influence.","anchor":"section-55-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":550030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-055-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-055","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-55","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"55.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Information obtained through liaison shall be evaluated under the same relevance and conflict principles as other evidence.","anchor":"section-55-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":550040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-055-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-055","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-55","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"55.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Where an arrangement ends or materially changes, public references shall be corrected so that historic cooperation is not presented as current recognition, endorsement or joint certification.","anchor":"section-55-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":550050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-056","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-56","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"56","heading":"External recognition and equivalence claims","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-056","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":560000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-056-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-056","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-56","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"56.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC shall not claim that its standards or certificates are recognized, equivalent, aligned, accredited or approved by another organization or authority unless the precise claim is supported by a current public act from a competent source and used within its stated scope.","anchor":"section-56-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":560010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-056-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-056","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-56","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"56.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Participation in consultation, citation of a source, shared terminology, membership, memorandum of understanding, attendance at an event or technical similarity does not by itself establish recognition or equivalence.","anchor":"section-56-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":560020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-056-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-056","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-56","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"56.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"A comparative mapping may identify factual similarities and differences but shall state its author, method, edition basis, limitations and non-normative effect.","anchor":"section-56-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":560030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-056-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-056","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-56","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"56.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Expiry, withdrawal or limitation of an external status shall be reflected promptly in ICEQC public communication.","anchor":"section-56-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":560040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-056-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-056","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-56","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"56.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Nothing in this rule prevents accurate description of independent cooperation or lawful external evaluation, but the description shall preserve the ICEQC-only issuer and certification identity required by ICEQC-GOV-009.","anchor":"section-56-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":560050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-057","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-57","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"57","heading":"Business continuity of standards governance","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-057","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":570000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-057-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-057","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-57","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"57.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC shall maintain continuity arrangements proportionate to events capable of interrupting governance, including loss of key office-holders, technology failure, cyber incident, disaster, legal restriction, financial distress, supplier failure or inability of a body to meet.","anchor":"section-57-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":570010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-057-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-057","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-57","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"57.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Continuity shall preserve document custody, public status information, decision authority, conflict safeguards, consultation records and the ability to issue urgent corrections without transferring normative power to an unauthorized person.","anchor":"section-57-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":570020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-057-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-057","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-57","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"57.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Temporary arrangements shall be documented, time-limited and reviewed, and shall not be used to make avoidable permanent policy changes while ordinary representation is unavailable.","anchor":"section-57-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":570030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-057-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-057","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-57","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"57.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"If a public service is unavailable, ICEQC shall provide a credible status notice and alternative verification route as soon as practicable.","anchor":"section-57-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":570040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-057-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-057","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-57","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"57.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Restoration shall confirm the integrity of records and identify any governance or publication action taken during the disruption that affects public reliance.","anchor":"section-57-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":570050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-058","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-58","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"58","heading":"Retention and historical accountability","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-058","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":580000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-058-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-058","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-58","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"58.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"Governance records shall be retained for a period sufficient to support the life of the affected document, applicable certification reliance, systematic review, legal obligations and credible procedural challenge.","anchor":"section-58-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":580010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-058-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-058","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-58","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"58.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"At minimum, the authoritative publication, approval identity, public consultation outcome, amendment and correction history, and status transitions shall remain permanently identifiable as part of the institutional standards record.","anchor":"section-58-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":580020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-058-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-058","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-58","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"58.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Disposal of supporting material shall be authorized, documented and suspended where a known complaint, appeal, investigation, legal hold or integrity concern makes the material relevant.","anchor":"section-58-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":580030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-058-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-058","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-58","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"58.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Migration to a new format or custodian shall preserve authenticity, accessibility, metadata and relationships rather than only the visual text.","anchor":"section-58-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":580040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-058-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-058","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-58","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"58.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"A reader shall be able to determine that an older record is historical without mistaking it for current authority, and absence of an old operational detail shall not be filled by undocumented reconstruction.","anchor":"section-58-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":580050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-059","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-59","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"59","heading":"Institutional restructuring or cessation","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-059","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":590000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-059-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-059","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-59","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"59.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"A merger, renaming, transfer of assets, change of legal form, relocation, insolvency or cessation of ICEQC activity shall not silently transfer standards ownership, certification liability or decision authority.","anchor":"section-59-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":590010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-059-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-059","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-59","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"59.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Before a material restructuring takes effect, the competent governance authority shall determine custody of controlled documents and records, treatment of active standards and certificates, public-register continuity, claims and marks, outstanding complaints and appeals, personal data, contractual duties and the identity of any lawful successor.","anchor":"section-59-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":590020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-059-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-059","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-59","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"59.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"A successor shall not represent itself as having issued historic ICEQC decisions unless the legal and controlled record supports that continuity, and shall not enlarge their scope.","anchor":"section-59-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":590030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-059-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-059","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-59","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"59.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"If no suitable successor exists, ICEQC shall provide orderly withdrawal, archival verification and public notice to the extent lawfully and practically possible.","anchor":"section-59-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":590040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-059-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-059","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-59","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"59.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"The public record shall distinguish continuation, transfer, suspension and termination so that institutional change is not mistaken for automatic ongoing certification validity.","anchor":"section-59-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":590050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-060","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-60","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"60","heading":"Review and amendment of the Charter","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-060","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":600000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-060-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-060","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-60","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"60.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"Review of this Charter shall consider experience across all ICEQC document families, changes in law and international good practice, stakeholder and learner evidence, governance complaints and appeals, impartiality risks, technology and language access, and the continuing accuracy of the certification boundary.","anchor":"section-60-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":600010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-060-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-060","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-60","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"60.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Confirmation without change shall require a reasoned conclusion that the Charter remains complete, coherent and fit for purpose; passage of time alone is not sufficient.","anchor":"section-60-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":600020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-060-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-060","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-60","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"60.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"A proposed substantive amendment shall receive public consultation and the approval safeguards applicable to the highest governance level, including disclosure of material effects on subordinate documents and existing certification.","anchor":"section-60-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":600030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-060-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-060","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-60","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"60.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"An amendment shall not retroactively validate an act that lacked authority when made.","anchor":"section-60-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":600040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-060-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-060","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-60","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"60.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Publication shall include a change summary, effective date, transition treatment and identification of any subordinate document requiring consequential correction or revision.","anchor":"section-60-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":600050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-061","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-61","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"61","heading":"Constitutional precedence and subordinate authority","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-061","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":610000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-061-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-061","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-61","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"61.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"This Charter is the highest ICEQC controlled rule for the standards and certification system and shall govern the interpretation of subordinate governance rules, certification procedures, schemes, modules, policies and public identity instruments.","anchor":"section-61-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":610010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-061-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-061","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-61","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"61.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"A subordinate document may allocate detail, establish additional safeguards or adapt application to a defined object, but shall not remove a Charter protection, enlarge institutional authority or create an exception by implication.","anchor":"section-61-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":610020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-061-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-061","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-61","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"61.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Where the Charter reserves a matter for another document, that document shall act within the reservation and remain subject to the Charter's purpose and boundaries.","anchor":"section-61-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":610030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-061-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-061","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-61","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"61.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"A contract, committee resolution, platform setting, partnership term or individual decision shall not amend this hierarchy.","anchor":"section-61-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":610040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-061-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-061","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-61","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"61.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Any proposal to alter precedence shall be made visibly as a Charter amendment, assessed for consequential effects throughout the controlled-document system and published with transition arrangements that prevent different audiences from being governed unknowingly by inconsistent authority.","anchor":"section-61-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":610050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-062","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-62","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"62","heading":"Equal and non-discriminatory participation","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-062","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":620000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-062-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-062","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-62","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"62.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC shall administer access to standards information and development opportunities without improper discrimination based on nationality, location, language, disability, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, religion, age, organizational size, commercial relationship, political view or another status unrelated to the legitimate needs of the activity.","anchor":"section-62-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":620010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-062-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-062","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-62","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"62.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Different arrangements may be used to overcome disadvantage, protect vulnerable persons, manage conflicts or obtain missing perspectives and do not constitute improper preference where they are proportionate and transparent.","anchor":"section-62-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":620020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-062-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-062","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-62","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"62.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Participation may be limited by project scope, competence needed for a reserved role, conduct rules or lawful confidentiality, but the reason shall be connected to the function rather than opposition to a technical position.","anchor":"section-62-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":620030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-062-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-062","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-62","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"62.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"A participation decision capable of materially excluding an affected interest shall be reviewable through the published procedural route.","anchor":"section-62-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":620040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-062-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-062","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-62","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"62.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Equal access does not require ICEQC to fund every participant, but financial and technological barriers shall be considered when evaluating whether consultation was meaningful.","anchor":"section-62-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":620050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-063","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-63","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"63","heading":"Standards-participation conduct","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-063","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":630000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-063-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-063","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-63","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"63.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"Standards participants shall engage in professional, respectful and evidence-oriented conduct compatible with open technical disagreement.","anchor":"section-63-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":630010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-063-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-063","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-63","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"63.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Harassment, intimidation, discriminatory abuse, deliberate disruption, impersonation, coercion, unauthorized disclosure and knowing misrepresentation of another person's position are inconsistent with participation rights.","anchor":"section-63-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":630020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-063-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-063","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-63","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"63.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"A conduct response shall be proportionate, shall distinguish robust criticism from abuse and shall not be used to remove an inconvenient technical objection.","anchor":"section-63-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":630030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-063-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-063","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-63","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"63.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Except where immediate protection is necessary, the affected person shall be informed of the concern and given a fair opportunity to respond before a material restriction is imposed.","anchor":"section-63-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":630040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-063-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-063","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-63","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"63.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Any restriction shall identify its scope, duration, reason and review route, and shall preserve the technical record already submitted where it remains relevant.","anchor":"section-63-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":630050},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-063-006","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-063","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-63","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"63.6","heading":null,"bodyText":"Conduct rules shall apply consistently across status and seniority and shall not give a sponsor, office-holder or dominant participant immunity from accountability.","anchor":"section-63-6","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":630060},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-064","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-64","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"64","heading":"Decision quorum and voting safeguards","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-064","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":640000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-064-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-064","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-64","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"64.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"Where an authorized body uses a formal vote, the applicable public governance record shall identify the eligible decision membership, quorum rule, voting threshold, treatment of abstention and conflict recusals, and whether the vote determines or only recommends the outcome.","anchor":"section-64-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":640010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-064-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-064","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-64","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"64.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Quorum shall reflect sufficient participation and stakeholder balance for the assigned decision and shall not be manufactured by excluding known dissent or counting persons without authority.","anchor":"section-64-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":640020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-064-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-064","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-64","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"64.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"A proxy, written vote or asynchronous decision may be used only where identity, information equality and the controlling rule permit it.","anchor":"section-64-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":640030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-064-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-064","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-64","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"64.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Numerical passage shall not cure a missing mandatory consultation, unmanaged conflict, lack of reserved authority or failure to consider a sustained substantial objection.","anchor":"section-64-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":640040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-064-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-064","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-64","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"64.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"The final record shall state the result and any material limitation while protecting individual vote confidentiality where that safeguard was established in advance.","anchor":"section-64-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":640050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-065","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-65","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"65","heading":"Recusal and loss of participation in a decision","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-065","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":650000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-065-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-065","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-65","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"65.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"A person subject to recusal shall not receive restricted decision material beyond what another similarly situated stakeholder may receive, shape the recommendation through informal direction, vote, determine consensus or approve the record of the matter from which recused.","anchor":"section-65-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":650010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-065-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-065","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-65","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"65.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Recusal may be limited to a provision or issue where the remaining participation does not create a reasonable appearance of influence over the affected outcome.","anchor":"section-65-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":650020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-065-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-065","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-65","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"65.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"The body shall determine whether it retains competence, balance and quorum after recusal and shall obtain replacement or independent review where necessary.","anchor":"section-65-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":650030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-065-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-065","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-65","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"65.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"The record shall identify that a recusal occurred and its effect on authority without publishing unnecessary personal detail.","anchor":"section-65-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":650040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-065-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-065","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-65","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"65.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"A later challenge shall examine the substance and management of the conflict, not merely whether a declaration form existed, and a failure capable of materially affecting impartiality shall be addressed under the governance corrective-action rules.","anchor":"section-65-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":650050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-066","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-66","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"66","heading":"Evidence used in governance decisions","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-066","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":660000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-066-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-066","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-66","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"66.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"A governance or technical conclusion shall be based on information whose relevance, source, limitations and relationship to the issue can be understood.","anchor":"section-66-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":660010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-066-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-066","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-66","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"66.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Research reputation, citation count, participant seniority, commercial adoption or a large data volume shall not replace evaluation of method, population, currency, bias, uncertainty and applicability.","anchor":"section-66-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":660020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-066-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-066","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-66","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"66.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Anecdotal and lived-experience evidence may identify harms, barriers or questions even where it does not establish prevalence, while quantitative evidence shall not be interpreted beyond its design.","anchor":"section-66-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":660030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-066-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-066","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-66","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"66.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Conflicting evidence shall be acknowledged and evaluated rather than selected solely to support a preferred text.","anchor":"section-66-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":660040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-066-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-066","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-66","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"66.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Where evidence remains materially uncertain, the responsible body may adopt a proportionate precaution, pilot, monitoring condition or narrower requirement and shall explain the basis.","anchor":"section-66-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":660050},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-066-006","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-066","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-66","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"66.6","heading":null,"bodyText":"Protected source material may be considered where lawful, but no conclusion shall depend on a hidden normative premise unavailable to affected readers.","anchor":"section-66-6","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":660060},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-067","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-67","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"67","heading":"Pilots, trials and field evaluation","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-067","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":670000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-067-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-067","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-67","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"67.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC may use a pilot or field evaluation to examine clarity, feasibility, evidence availability, assessment consistency and unintended effects before approving a new or substantially revised normative document.","anchor":"section-67-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":670010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-067-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-067","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-67","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"67.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Participation in a pilot shall not be represented as certification under the draft, confer preferred future treatment or require a participant to endorse the result.","anchor":"section-67-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":670020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-067-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-067","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-67","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"67.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Pilot conditions, status, scope and use of information shall be communicated in advance, and affected confidential and personal information shall be protected.","anchor":"section-67-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":670030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-067-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-067","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-67","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"67.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Findings shall distinguish technical evidence from participant satisfaction and shall identify limits caused by sample, geography, object type or simulated activity.","anchor":"section-67-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":670040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-067-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-067","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-67","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"67.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"A pilot may justify change, further consultation, delayed publication or discontinuation, but shall not replace the required approval process.","anchor":"section-67-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":670050},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-067-006","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-067","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-67","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"67.6","heading":null,"bodyText":"If a live certification relies on a separately published existing edition during the pilot, that basis shall remain clear and independent of the trial text.","anchor":"section-67-6","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":670060},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-068","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-68","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"68","heading":"Proportionality of governance controls","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-068","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":680000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-068-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-068","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-68","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"68.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"Governance safeguards shall be proportionate to the normative effect, risk, novelty, scope and public reliance associated with the decision.","anchor":"section-68-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":680010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-068-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-068","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-68","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"68.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"A correction with no change of meaning need not repeat the full process for a new certification scheme, while a small textual change that expands scope or removes a protection shall receive the process warranted by its effect.","anchor":"section-68-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":680020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-068-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-068","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-68","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"68.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Proportionality shall not be used as a general excuse to omit transparency, competence, conflict management, authority or an opportunity for affected comment where those safeguards are material.","anchor":"section-68-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":680030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-068-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-068","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-68","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"68.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"The responsible body shall state the reason for any reduced or enhanced process and shall apply comparable reasoning to comparable cases.","anchor":"section-68-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":680040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-068-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-068","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-68","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"68.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Where doubt exists about whether a change may affect conformity or public claims, the higher level of control shall apply until the effect is resolved.","anchor":"section-68-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":680050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-069","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-69","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"69","heading":"Coherence with the certification architecture","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-069","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":690000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-069-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-069","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-69","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"69.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"A governance decision shall consider its effect on the complete ICEQC certification architecture, including core requirements, object-specific schemes, applicability modules, assessment procedures, decisions, certificates, marks, public-register fields, translations and transitions.","anchor":"section-69-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":690010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-069-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-069","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-69","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"69.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"A standards body shall not assume that another part of the system will correct ambiguous scope, unavailable evidence or an impossible requirement after publication.","anchor":"section-69-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":690020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-069-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-069","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-69","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"69.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Proposed terminology and identifiers shall be checked against current controlled use, and a necessary consequential change shall be identified before the principal document becomes effective.","anchor":"section-69-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":690030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-069-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-069","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-69","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"69.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Where simultaneous change is impracticable, the transition record shall state which existing rule continues, which later action is required and how contradiction is prevented.","anchor":"section-69-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":690040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-069-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-069","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-69","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"69.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Coherence review shall preserve the binary conformity model and the rule that all applicable requirements must conform before a positive certification decision.","anchor":"section-69-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":690050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-070","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-70","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"70","heading":"Public access to governing documents","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-070","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":700000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-070-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-070","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-70","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"70.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"The current authoritative Charter, governance rules, certification requirements, scheme conditions, transition notices and public decision routes shall be available without requiring a person to become an applicant, provide unnecessary personal information or purchase an optional service.","anchor":"section-70-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":700010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-070-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-070","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-70","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"70.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Reasonable copyright and integrity conditions may govern reproduction, but shall not prevent reading, citation and verification of the requirements used for certification.","anchor":"section-70-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":700020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-070-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-070","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-70","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"70.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Where an indispensable incorporated document is subject to an external fee or access restriction, that dependency and its effect shall be disclosed and a lawful accessible solution shall be sought.","anchor":"section-70-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":700030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-070-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-070","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-70","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"70.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Technical unavailability shall be acknowledged with an alternative route and shall not justify applying a hidden copy.","anchor":"section-70-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":700040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-070-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-070","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-70","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"70.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Superseded and withdrawn documents may be placed in an archive rather than the current register view, but their status, applicable period and relationship to later editions shall remain discoverable.","anchor":"section-70-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":700050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-071","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-71","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"71","heading":"Annual public governance statement","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-071","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":710000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-071-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-071","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-71","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"71.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC shall publish a proportionate periodic statement on the operation of its standards governance, ordinarily covering the preceding year.","anchor":"section-71-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":710010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-071-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-071","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-71","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"71.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"The statement shall identify new and revised normative documents, consultations, systematic reviews, corrections and interpretations, material procedural complaints or appeals in aggregate, governance improvement actions, and significant changes to responsible bodies or cooperation arrangements.","anchor":"section-71-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":710020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-071-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-071","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-71","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"71.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"It shall distinguish activity counts from claims of effectiveness and shall explain material limitations in the available information.","anchor":"section-71-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":710030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-071-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-071","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-71","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"71.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Confidential case information, personal data and legally protected material shall not be disclosed, but protection shall not remove the existence of a systemic issue or corrective commitment necessary for public understanding.","anchor":"section-71-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":710040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-071-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-071","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-71","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"71.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Publication of the statement does not certify ICEQC or replace independent review; it provides an accountable public record against which later governance development can be understood.","anchor":"section-71-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":710050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-072","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-72","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"72","heading":"Corrective publication and reliance protection","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-072","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":720000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-072-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-072","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-72","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"72.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"Where ICEQC publishes materially incorrect governance information, it shall correct the source and take proportionate steps to reach persons reasonably likely to have relied on it.","anchor":"section-72-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":720010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-072-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-072","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-72","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"72.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"The correction shall identify what was wrong, the accurate information, the affected period and whether any standard, certification action, deadline or public claim is affected.","anchor":"section-72-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":720020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-072-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-072","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-72","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"72.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"A corrected webpage shall not erase the fact of a material earlier error where historical reliance matters.","anchor":"section-72-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":720030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-072-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-072","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-72","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"72.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"ICEQC shall distinguish an administrative correction from a normative amendment and shall not describe a change of obligation as if it merely repaired presentation.","anchor":"section-72-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":720040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-072-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-072","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-72","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"72.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"If a person acted reasonably on authoritative ICEQC information before correction, the competent authority shall consider fair transitional or remedial treatment consistent with learner protection and certification integrity; reliance shall not create authority for a result that ICEQC was legally incapable of granting.","anchor":"section-72-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":720050},{"id":"node-gov-001-clause-073","parentId":null,"clauseId":"cl-gov-001-73","nodeType":"CLAUSE","label":"73","heading":"Institutional learning without hidden rulemaking","bodyText":null,"anchor":"clause-073","depth":1,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":730000},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-073-001","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-073","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-73","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"73.1","heading":null,"bodyText":"Experience from assessments, complaints, appeals, research, support inquiries and stakeholder engagement may inform future improvement of ICEQC governance and standards.","anchor":"section-73-1","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":730010},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-073-002","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-073","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-73","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"73.2","heading":null,"bodyText":"Such learning shall be aggregated and evaluated so that a recurring issue can be distinguished from an isolated preference or case-specific fact.","anchor":"section-73-2","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":730020},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-073-003","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-073","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-73","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"73.3","heading":null,"bodyText":"Until a change is formally published and effective, internal lessons, reviewer consensus, frequently asked questions and training updates shall not create an additional requirement for applicants or certified clients.","anchor":"section-73-3","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":730030},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-073-004","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-073","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-73","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"73.4","heading":null,"bodyText":"Where a recurring interpretation is necessary to achieve consistent decisions, ICEQC shall use the controlled interpretation or revision process and make the result public.","anchor":"section-73-4","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":730040},{"id":"node-gov-001-provision-073-005","parentId":"node-gov-001-clause-073","clauseId":"cl-gov-001-73","nodeType":"PROVISION","label":"73.5","heading":null,"bodyText":"Improvement activity shall respect personal and confidential information and shall not use an individual case as promotional evidence without a lawful basis and accurate context.","anchor":"section-73-5","depth":2,"normativeKind":"REQUIREMENT","obligationLevel":"SHALL","assessmentUnit":false,"sortOrder":730050}]},"meta":{"generatedAt":"2026-09-14T23:12:26.586Z","version":"2026.1"}}