Notification to Client and Follow-Up Actions

Suspension of Certification

  1. The client’s certified system shall be suspended when the certified management system has persistently and seriously failed to meet certification requirements, for example:
    • Failure to respond adequately to identify identified non-conformance(s).
    • Management system does not reflect the current organization and processes (e.g., because of changes, acquisitions, diversification etc.).
    • Major part of the management system not implemented.
  2. Surveillance audits and recertification audits not allowed to be conducted according to required frequency or as scheduled.
  3. Violation of the terms of the signed certification agreement, for example:
    1. Non-payment of fees.
    2. Incorrect use of the certification mark and reference to certification.
    3. Customer voluntarily requesting temporary suspension.
    4. Evidence received from authorities that could affect the status of certificate, for example:
      • Evidence of non-compliance to regulatory/statutory requirements relevant for the certified management system.
      • Evidence of a non-effective managements system in case of serious incidents/accidents.
  4. The OM who issued the certificate shall decide on the action to be taken, based on a review and duly considerations of evidence.
  5. If suspension is decided the process below shall be followed.
  6. Suspension of a certificate is normally initiated as the first step, followed by withdrawal if the issue of concern is not resolved within due time.
  7. Dependent on the seriousness of the case, UGGSB may decide a direct withdrawal of the certificate.
  8. Where failure of the management system is related to a specific part of the organization, UGGSB Certification may also consider a reduction in the scope of certification as an alternative to suspension.
  9. UGGSB Certification may also choose to only give the client a warning that suspension is being considered.
  10. UGGSB shall restore the suspended certification if the issue that has resulted in the suspension has been resolved.
  11. UGGSB shall ensure that failure to resolve the issues that have resulted in the suspension in a time established by UGGSB shall result in withdrawal or reduction of the scope of certification.
  12. The suspension period shall normally not exceed 6 months, unless there are extenuating circumstances.
  13. UGGSB shall reduce the 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.
    14. UGGSB shall ensure that any such reduction are in line with the requirements of the relevant MSPO standard used for certification.