An Independent Laboratory must not be owned or controlled by which of the following?

An Independent Laboratory must not be owned or controlled by the manufacturer of the equipment being tested to ensure objectivity and impartiality in the testing and certification process. When a laboratory is affiliated with the manufacturer, there can be conflicts of interest that may compromise the integrity of the test results. Objectivity is paramount for safety standards; if a laboratory has ties to the manufacturer, it may yield biased outcomes that do not accurately reflect the safety or performance of the equipment.

This separation helps maintain credibility and trust in the certification process, ensuring that the testing is conducted thoroughly and that results are reliable for end-users and regulatory bodies. In this context, an independent laboratory is established to serve as an unbiased evaluator, free from external pressures that could influence its findings.