Certification Process

The certification process begins with an application review, which may be accepted, rejected or sent back for more details. Once approved, an audit team is appointed and a Stage-1 audit readiness checklist is provided. Any issues found must be corrected before moving to Stage-2, the detailed audit. If problems remain unresolved, the application is closed; if resolved, certification is recommended and awarded. After certification, surveillance audits in Year 1 and Year 2 ensure ongoing compliance. Finally, re-certification is required to continue holding the certification. This process ensures both achievement and maintenance of standards.

Procedure for Issue and Withdrawal of Certificates

Granting or Refusing for Certification

INTERCERT Certification committee may refuse certification, in case of non-fulfillment of audit criteria, or non-submission of corrective action/documentation to meet the requirements within a stipulated time frame. In cases of any non-compliance or requirement of additional information or clarification, the report shall be sent back to the audit team leader for necessary actions/submission. In cases of re-certification, certification committee shall make decisions on renewing certification based on the results of the recertification audit, as well as the results of the review of the system over the period of certification and complaints received from users of certification.

Details for issuing of Certification

The issued certificate to the client identifies the following:

The name and geographical location of each certified client (or the geographical location of the headquarters and any sites within the scope of a multi-site certification.

The effective date of granting, expanding, or reducing the scope of certification, or renewing certification which shall not be before the date of the relevant certification decision.

The expiry date or recertification due date consistent with the recertification cycle.

A unique identification code.

The management system standard and/or other normative documents, including an indication of issue status (e.g. revision date or number) used for audit of the certified client.

The scope of certification with respect to the type of activities, products, and services as applicable at each site without being misleading or ambiguous.

The name, address, and certification mark of the INTERCERT; other marks (e.g. accreditation symbol, client’s logo) may be used provided they are not misleading or ambiguous.

Any other information required by the standard and/or other normative document used for certification.

In the event of issuing any revised certification documents, a means to distinguish the revised documents from any prior obsolete documents.

Maintain Certification

INTERCERT maintains certification based on a demonstration that the client continues to satisfy the requirements of the management system standard through the surveillance and recertification audit conduction. It may maintain a client’s certification based on a positive conclusion by the audit team leader without further independent review and decision, provided that:

Competent personnel of INTERCERT monitor its surveillance activities, including monitoring the reporting by its auditors, to confirm that the certification activity is operating effectively.

Suspension of Certification

Suspension of certification may be done in the following cases

The certified client’s management system has persistently failed to meet certification requirements, including requirements for the effectiveness of the management system.

The certified client does not allow surveillance or recertification audits to be conducted at the required frequencies.

The certified client has voluntarily requested a suspension.

In case of not applying new standards that changed due to the certification system.

Violate use of certification mark.

Violate contract or agreement of certification.

In case of providing false information or documents during an audit.

During the suspension, the certificate is considered invalid.

Restoring of Certification

INTERCERT restores the suspended certification if the issue that has resulted in the suspension has been resolved. Failure to resolve the issues that have resulted in the suspension within six months shall result in withdrawal or reduction of the scope of certification.

Withdrawing of Certification

INTERCERT withdrew certification for the following causes:

Failure to resolve the issues that have resulted in the suspension within six months.

The certified client has voluntarily requested withdrawal.

Any other cause that justifies withdrawal as decided by the Independent auditor and certification decision committee.

For any major nonconformity or other situation that may lead to suspension or withdrawal of certification, INTERCERT has a system that requires the audit team leader to report to INTERCERT to initiate a review by competent personnel, different from those who carried out the audit, to determine whether certification can be maintained; Competent personnel understand the applicable standard and certification requirements, and shall have demonstrated competence to evaluate the outcomes of the audit processes including related recommendations of the audit team. INTERCERT enforceable arrangements with the certified client concerning conditions of withdrawal ensuring upon notice of withdrawal of certification that the client discontinues its use of all advertising matter that contains any reference to a certified status. Upon request by any party, INTERCERT will state the status of certification of a client's management system as being suspended, withdrawn, or reduced.

Expanding or Reducing the Scope of Certification

INTERCERT, in response to an application for expanding the scope of a certification already granted, undertake a review of the application and determine any audit activities necessary to decide whether or not the extension may be granted. This may be conducted in conjunction with a surveillance audit.

INTERCERT reduces the client's scope of certification to exclude the parts not meeting the requirements when the client has persistently or seriously failed to meet the certification requirements for those parts of the scope of certification. Any such reduction will be in line with the requirements of the standard used for certification.