Regulatory Comparison and Measured-Margin Verification
GSQA-EVD-007
Comparison record fields
Identify model, use, configuration and named market before listing regulatory requirements, referenced or adopted standards, editions, clauses and official sources. Record method, conditions, requirement type, limit direction, units, measured value, report and page and reliability basis. Company targets, general scores or voluntary assessments without a regulatory basis do not automatically establish performance beyond regulatory requirements.
Determining results
Upper limits, lower limits, ranges, grades, qualitative results and non-detection follow their respective requirements, retaining original values and units. Apply stated decision rules. Explain uncertainty, detection limits, grade ordering and conversions where relevant. A pass alone, rounding difference or unsupported margin cannot become an award advantage through subtraction.
Core performance and complete compliance
At least one meaningful, quantifiable core parameter identified in advance must reliably exceed its requirement, while all other applicable requirements are satisfied. There is no self-imposed uniform 10% margin, no scoring and no offsetting one failure with another advantage.
Meet all applicable requirements first
The product, use, configuration and market must be accurate. All mandatory items must be present, with no unresolved failures. Favourable results elsewhere cannot offset omissions or safety problems.
Identify core comparison parameters in advance
At least one quantifiable core parameter directly relevant to principal use, quality or safety must show a reliable margin. The comparison is identified before verification to prevent retrospective selection of unrelated favourable data.
Compare according to the direction of the requirement
A lower result may show a margin against an upper limit, and a higher result against a lower limit. Intervals and performance classes follow the original requirements. A pass/fail result without comparable data does not, by itself, establish performance above the requirement.
Comparable methods, conditions and units
Compare under the same clause and method. Retain conditions, values, units, uncertainty and applicable decision rules. Unresolved measurement differences and rounding must not be treated as advantages.
Explain the data without overstating it
Method example: where a limit is no greater than 10 and the measured result is 6, the numerical difference is 4, or 40% below the limit. This does not mean that the product is 40% safer. A non-detect retains its detection limit and must not be described as zero content.
Findings limited to verified parameters
Retain the standard, edition, clause, report page and measured result together. Exceeding a standard on one parameter does not establish leadership in every aspect of performance. Each market must satisfy the conditions separately.
Multiple markets and exclusions
Each target jurisdiction requires all applicable requirements and at least one reliably superior core indicator. An exclusion identifies the object, conditions and basis; an applicant checkbox does not confirm it. One jurisdiction’s limits or laboratory acceptance do not replace another’s. Markets without a separate website page still require the same case-specific comparison.
Clarification and decision support
Where values, methods, units, sample configurations or editions are not directly comparable, record differences and obtain clarification or additional evidence. Retain rules, original values, conversions and reasons for independent examination. Other strengths cannot offset an unresolved essential item. Public claims use only verified scope, not infer overall superiority from one comparison.