EQRM INFORMATION
Certification Policies and Client Responsibilities
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Application and scope
An applicant should provide complete information about its activities, personnel, locations, outsourced processes and requested scope. Material changes during application review should be disclosed so that competence, audit arrangements and the proposed scope can be reconsidered.
An application may require clarification or may not be accepted where the necessary arrangements cannot be established. A quotation is not a certification decision.
Assessment and findings
The organization should provide access to the people, sites and evidence needed for the agreed assessment. Records should reflect actual operation. Findings requiring action must be addressed through the applicable process, with evidence sufficient for the relevant evaluation.
The completion of an audit does not guarantee a favorable certification decision. Audit activities, review and decision responsibilities must follow the applicable certification requirements.
Maintaining certification
The client should continue operating the certified system and participate in the required ongoing assessments. Changes that may affect certification include ownership or legal identity, activities, locations, scope, significant system changes and matters that could affect conformity.
Notify EQRM when a relevant change occurs rather than assuming it can wait until the next scheduled audit. The significance of a change and the necessary assessment should be determined under the applicable programme.
Scope changes and certificate status
An extension, reduction or change in scope needs evaluation before the certificate is represented as covering the revised activities. Certification may be suspended, withdrawn or reduced where the applicable conditions are met. The consequences for certificate use and public claims must follow the status decision and relevant agreement.
An unexpired date alone does not prove that a certificate is currently active. Consult certificate verification when checking current status.
Accurate public claims
Do not describe management system certification as product approval, a statutory license, or certification of activities outside the stated scope. Use certification marks only as authorized. See use of certificates and marks.
For questions about an existing engagement, email info@eqrmcert.com with your organization and certificate or application reference.
RELATED INFORMATION
Accreditation & scope
Impartiality
Complaints & appeals
Certificate & mark use
Editorial policy
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