Action required

Accredited Certification Bodies for Products, Processes and Services (CBAP) are asked to take note of the IAF Resolution 2018-13.  All ISO/IEC 17065 accredited CBs shall have full implementation by deadline.

Affected customers

SCC accredited Certification Bodies for Products, Processes and Services

Background

On October 29th, 2018, the IAF General Assembly agreed to the following resolution:

The General Assembly acting on the recommendation of the Technical Committee resolved that IAF Accreditation Body members shall have legally enforceable arrangements with their accredited CABs for Product Certification that prevents the CAB from issuing non-accredited product certification in scopes for which they are accredited. The enforceable arrangements shall require full implementation within three years from 31 October 2018.

Additionally, CABs for Product Certification must transition certification documentation to include the accreditation symbol and/or must make reference to the accreditation status of the CAB including the identification of the AB, no later than 31 October 2021. (Link for actual IAF-2018 resolution)

New requirements

A legally enforceable arrangement with accredited CBs shall be in place along with a process for verification of agreement and other requirements of accreditation body symbol on certification documents. The impacted CBs are required to have the following:

1. All accredited CBs will be provided with amendments to their existing SCC Accreditation Agreement.
2. CBs shall inform SCC if they are issuing non-accredited product certification in scopes for which the CB is accredited.
3. CBs shall identify and transition certification documentation to include the accreditation symbol and/or must make reference to the accreditation status of the CB including the identification of the AB (SCC).

Deadline

SCC shall have legally enforceable arrangements with certification bodies for product certification that prevents the CBs from issuing non-accredited product certification in scopes for which they are accredited.

1. Customers should expect to receive the amended accreditation agreement by 2020-09-30. The amended accreditation agreement shall be signed and returned by 2020-12-31.
2. The terms of the resolution must be adhered to by October 31st, 2021.

Questions?

Please contact Abdel Kassou, Manager, Compliance and Assessment Services, at abdel.kassou@scc.ca or +1 613 238 3222 ext. 443 for more information.