Client Requirements

As a certified company through ACSC, there are minimal requirements that must be upheld in order for us to maintain our accreditation.

Just like you are held to the requirements of the relevant ISO standard, we too are held to the requirements of ISO 17021-1:2015 Conformity Assessment – Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems.

Certified Client Requirements

ACSC requires each client organization to:

Make all necessary arrangements for the conduct of an audit, which includes providing an area where auditor(s) can examine documents, providing a lunch to audit team members, and provide access to all areas, processes, records and personnel for the purpose of conducting an audit.
Make provisions to accommodate the presence of observers (e.g. accreditation assessors, trainees, etc.)
Conform to ACSC requirements when making reference to its certification status in communication media such as the internet, brochures or advertising, or other documents
Not make any misleading statements about its certification
Not permit the use of a certification document or any part thereof in a misleading manner
Discontinue use of all advertising material that contains a reference to ACSC certification upon withdrawal of its certification
Amend all advertising material when requested to by ACSC due to scope change
Not allow reference to its ACSC certification to be used in such a way as to imply that ACSC certifies a product, service or process
Not imply that ACSC certification applies to activities or sites that are outside the scope of certification
Not use its ACSC certification in a manner that would bring ACSC, Accreditation Body or IAF into disrepute and lose public trust

Incorrect references to certification status or misleading use of certification documents, marks or audit reports will be handled by ACSC on a case by case basis. Actions taken by ACSC may include requests for correction and corrective action, suspension, withdrawal of certification, publication of the transgression and, if necessary, legal action.

Confidentiality

ACSC has established confidentiality documents to ensure the management of all information obtained or created during the performance of certification activities, at all levels, including auditors, committee members, external bodies or individuals acting on behalf of ACSC.

All information, except for information that is made publically accessible by the client organization, is considered confidential. Information from other sources such as complaints or regulatory agencies, shall be treated as confidential.

Information about a particular certified client organization or individual will not be disclosed to a third-party without the written consent of the certified client or individual concerned, unless ACSC receives a subpoena, discovers a situation that is an immediate threat, or Accreditation Body request to review a document for the purpose of continued accreditation for ACSC. If confidential information about a client organization is released, ACSC will notify them of the information provided and to whom it was provided. The Accreditation Body operates under a confidentiality agreement with ACSC as well.

Use of the ACSC Certification Mark

Statements of management systems certification on product packaging must include reference to:

Organizational name of the registered site(s);
The type of management system (e.g., Quality Management System) and the applicable Standard (e.g., ISO 9001:2015);
ACSC name or mark designating who is the certification body.

Use of the ACSC name, mark, certificate, or statements of management systems certification on sales literature, websites, brochures, pamphlets, promotions and catalogs, or any other media used in advertising of Registration is acceptable, provided the client organization complies with the following legally enforceable arrangements:

NOTE 1: Product packaging is considered as that which can be removed without the product disintegrating or being damaged.

NOTE 2: Type labels or identification plates are considered as part of the product.

Statements of management systems certification must include reference to:

The applicable Standard (e.g., ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, etc.);
ACSC name or mark designating who is the certification body.

Digital logo's are available for certified clients by contacting ACSC.

A registered client organization shall not:

Directly or indirectly represent, advertise, imply or claim that products (including services) of a non-registered site are registered by ACSC. This also includes any business activities not covered under the Scope of Registration on the ACSC certificate. The client organization shall amend all advertising material when/if the scope of certification has been reduced.
Reference certification in such a manner that would bring our accreditation body or ACSC into disrepute and lose public trust.

The ACSC name, mark, certificate or statements of management systems certification will not:

Be used to imply that a product is certified, has an environmental benefit, or is of superior quality
Be used on products or consumer packaging, under any circumstances (Note: Product packaging is considered as that which can be removed without the product disintegrating or being damaged.)
Be used on a lab test, calibration or inspection reports or any document/record that attests to product suitability, fitness, or conformance (e.g. product specification sheets, technical datasheets, certificates of conformance, certificates of analysis, etc.)
Be advertised should the client organization’s certification be suspended or withdrawn
Be used to imply that activities, processes, products, services or sites outside of the scope of registration are part of the certification