Initial certification
- Client submits application for initial certification
- Exchange of information between client and certification body
- Review of application for Certification
- Identification of areas of concern and request for additional information (if applicable)
- Development of audit programme
- Proposal for certification and confirmation of audit programme
- Client and certification body engage in formal arrangements for certification
- Initial certification
- Select and appoint competent stage 1 audit team
- Plan for stage 1 Audit
- Perform stage 1 Audit
- Resolve stage 1 audit areas of concern (if applicable)
- Confirm/appoint competent stage 2 audit team
- Plan for stage 2 audit(s)
- Perform stage 2 audit(s)
- Resolve stage 2 audit areas of concern (if applicable)
- Initial certification audit conclusions
- Initial certification decision
- Granting of initial certification and issuance of certification documents
Surveillance audits
(First surveillance audit to take place within 12 months of stage 2 audit, then at least annually)
- Exchange of information between client and certification body (e.g. change of scope);
- Determine if changes to audit programme required
- Confirm audit programme and communicate to client
- Confirm/appoint competent audit team
- Plan for surveillance audit
- Perform surveillance audit
- Resolve surveillance audit areas of concern (if applicable)
- Surveillance audit conclusions
- Independent review of certification (if required)
- Issuance of certification documents (if applicable)
- Recertification
(Recertification activities to be completed before expiry of certification)
- Exchange of information between client and certification body (e.g. change of scope);
- Determine if changes to audit programme required
- Recertification audit planning
- Confirm audit programme and communicate to client
- Confirm/appoint competent audit team
- Plan for recertification audit
- Perform recertification audit
- Resolve recertification audit areas of concern (if applicable)
- Recertification audit conclusions
- Recertification decision
- Granting of recertification and issuance of certification documents
Extension to scope
- Client submits application; exchange of information between client and certification body
- Review of application for Extension
- Identification of areas of concern and request for additional information (if applicable)
- Determination of necessary audit activities
- Audit performed similar to stage 2 audit
- Resolve audit areas of concern (if applicable)
- Extension audit conclusions
- Decision on extension of certification scope
- Granting of extension to certification and issuance of certification documents
Reducing the scope
- Surveillance/recertification/special audit performed
- Client fails to meet certification requirements for some parts of the scope of certification
- Review and decision on scope of certification reduction
- Scope reduction and issuance of certification documents
- Suspending the certification
- Surveillance/special audit performed
- Client fails to meet certification/contractual requirements by solving areas of concern
- Decision on suspending certification (maximum 6 months)
- Notice on certification suspension
Withdrawing the certification
- Client fails to meet certification/contractual requirements within the suspension period
- Decision on withdrawing certification
- Notice on certification withdraw