How we audit, grant, maintain and, where needed, suspend or withdraw certification
From application to certificate
- Application and review. You give us details of your organisation, sites, scope and the standard you want. We review the application to confirm that we can do the work competently and without conflict of interest, then send a proposal and a certification agreement.
- Stage 1 audit. We review your management system documentation and your readiness for Stage 2.
- Stage 2 audit. We assess how effectively the management system is implemented, on site. Any nonconformities are recorded, and you submit corrections and corrective actions.
- Independent certification decision. A qualified person who took no part in the audit reviews the audit report and evidence and decides whether to grant certification.
- Certificate issued. The certificate is valid for three years and shows the certified scope.
- Surveillance audits. We audit at least once each calendar year to confirm the system continues to meet the standard.
- Recertification. We carry out a recertification audit and decision before the certificate expires.
Changes to your certification
Extending or reducing scope
Ask us in writing. We review the request and, where needed, audit before we issue an updated certificate. If part of the scope no longer meets requirements, we reduce the scope and reissue the certificate.
Suspension
Certification may be suspended if, for example, the management system persistently or seriously fails to meet requirements, surveillance or recertification audits are not allowed at the required frequency, or the client asks for a voluntary suspension. While suspended, the certification is temporarily invalid and the client must not promote it.
Restoration
Suspension is lifted once the issues have been resolved and the corrective actions verified. If they are not resolved within the time we set, certification is withdrawn or the scope reduced.
Withdrawal
Certification is withdrawn if the reasons for suspension are not resolved, if the client asks us to, or if the client misuses the certificate or marks. The client must then stop all reference to the certification.
We tell clients in writing of any suspension, withdrawal or scope reduction, with the reasons. Clients have 14 days to reply to a notification. Certification rules in full are part of the certification agreement and are available on request.
Source: SP/10 Certificate Issue, Suspension and Withdrawal Procedure V1.4.