Operating principles

Neutrality

1Cert.org serves all parties without favour. It does not act as an advocate for a registered entity, a certification partner, or a party commissioning a due diligence assessment. Recognition and publication decisions are made against published criteria, applied consistently.

Accuracy

Accuracy is not subordinated to speed or reach. A record is published, or a status changed, only once the evidentiary standard set out in the applicable standard has been met, even where that requires more time than a faster but less rigorous approach would take.

Corroboration

Conclusions rest on corroborated evidence. Where a finding cannot be corroborated to the standard required, it is presented as an allegation, not as an established fact.

Defensibility

Outputs are prepared for reliance by compliance, audit and legal functions. Every registry record and due diligence finding is sourced, dated, and documented in a way that supports scrutiny by the relying party's own functions.

Proportionality

The scope and depth of due diligence are matched to the level of assessed risk. No engagement is expanded or limited for commercial convenience at the expense of the evidentiary standard required for the decision.

Fair processing

Personal data is processed lawfully, limited to what is necessary, secured against unauthorised use and subject to the institution's review and correction process.