6.1 The flag State should be satisfied that the
RO has an effective quality management system in place. The flag State
may rely upon the audits carried out by an accredited certification
body or equivalent organizations. Intergovernmental cooperation in
establishing common auditing practices is encouraged.
6.2 A flag State auditor should advance the following
principles:
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.1 ethical conduct: the foundation of professionalism.
Trust, integrity, confidentiality and discretion are essential to
auditing;
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.2 fair presentation: the obligation to report
truthfully and accurately. Audit findings, audit conclusions, and
audit reports reflect truthfully and accurately the audit activities.
Significant obstacles encountered during the audit and unresolved
diverging opinions between the audit team and the auditee are reported;
and
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.3 due professional care: the application of diligence
and judgment in auditing. Auditors exercise care in accordance with
the importance of the task they perform and the confidence placed
in them by audit clients and other interested parties. Having the
necessary competence is an important factor.
6.3 Further principles relate to the audit, which
is by definition independent and systematic.
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.1 independence: the basis for the impartiality
of the audit and objectivity of the audit conclusions. Auditors are
independent of the activity being audited and are free from bias and
conflict of interest. Auditors maintain an objective state of mind
throughout the audit process to ensure that the audit findings and
conclusions will be based only on the audit evidence;
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.2 evidence-based approach: the rational method
for reaching reliable and reproducible audit conclusions in a systematic
audit process. Audit evidence is verifiable. It is based on samples
of the information available, since an audit is conducted during a
finite period of time and with finite resources. The appropriate use
of sampling is closely related to the confidence that can be placed
in the audit conclusions.
6.4 The guidance given in this Code is based on
the principles set out above.