A Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity (SDOC; also sometimes called Self Declaration of Conformity) is one
way to show that a product, process or service conforms to a standard or technical regulation, in which a
supplier provides written assurance of conformity to the specified requirements. The declaration normally
has the form of a separate document. The supplier makes such a declaration based on:
1) The
manufacturer’s confidence in the quality control system, or
2) The results of testing or inspection the
manufacturer undertakes or authorizes others to undertake on his/her behalf.
The manufacturer has the
option of using an accredited laboratory or inspection body and indicating this on the declaration; this is not
a requirement. The choice of where to test is left to the manufacturer. For regulatory purposes, authorities
can ensure that the integrity of a supplier’s declaration of conformity is maintained by establishing
requirements for who signs the declaration of conformity, requiring access to the declaration and/or
compliance records, etc.