Confidentiality Policy

All information available to ANS staff, subcontractors, or committee members (in any format) during audits, certification activities, or other dealings with organizations is treated as strictly confidential.

Such information is not disclosed to any third party unless permitted under ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 or with explicit permission from the concerned organization or individual. This confidentiality commitment also applies when information is reviewed by bodies that have a legitimate right to inspect ANS activities.

Where ANS is legally required to release confidential information, the concerned client or individual is notified in advance unless restricted by law.

If an organization is operating contrary to legal requirements or poses danger to staff, customers, or the environment, ANS reserves the right to report the matter to relevant authorities, subject to management approval.

Access to Records

Records are retained securely and are accessible only to authorized staff through controlled paper records or password-protected electronic systems. Subcontractors are limited to information related to their own audit activities.

Records are disclosed only to organizations that demonstrate a legitimate and legal right of access, including accreditation bodies such as IAS.

Confidentiality Declarations

All staff, subcontractors, directors, and committee members must agree to this policy and sign confidentiality agreements. Subcontractors also sign contractual agreements that explicitly include confidentiality obligations.