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Trust

Certification rules and use of marks

What we expect of certified clients, how certificates are maintained, suspended or withdrawn, and how certificates and marks may be used.

Last reviewed 30 October 2026

1.The certification cycle

Certificates are issued for three years after a Stage 1 and Stage 2 audit, and are maintained by surveillance audits in the first and second years and a recertification audit before expiry. Each step is described in how certification works.

2.What certified clients agree to

  • Keep the management system working and meeting the standard
  • Allow audits on the agreed schedule, including short-notice audits where needed
  • Give auditors access to people, records and sites in scope
  • Tell us promptly about significant changes to ownership, scope, sites, key people or the management system
  • Keep a record of complaints about their products or services and the action taken
  • Pay fees as agreed

3.Changing the scope

Scope can be extended or reduced on request. Extensions usually need an audit of the new activities or sites. Reductions take effect once we confirm them, and the certificate is reissued with the new scope.

4.Suspension

We may suspend a certificate when a client does not allow a surveillance or recertification audit at the required time, does not close major nonconformities in time, persistently or seriously fails to meet requirements, misuses the certificate or marks, or asks for suspension. A suspended certificate is not valid and shows as suspended in our public register.

5.Withdrawal and reinstatement

If the reason for suspension is not resolved within the time we set, normally no more than six months, the certificate is withdrawn and the client must stop all reference to certification. When the issue is resolved in time, the certificate is reinstated and the register is updated.

6.Using certificates and marks

Certified clients may use our certification mark, and where permitted the accreditation mark, on stationery, websites and marketing material, in line with these rules.

  • Use the mark only for the certified scope and sites
  • Do not use the mark on products, product packaging or laboratory test, calibration or inspection reports
  • Do not imply that a product or service is certified when the certificate covers a management system
  • Do not alter the mark’s proportions or colours
  • Stop using the mark and certificate as soon as certification is suspended or withdrawn

7.Public information

We publish the status, scope and dates of every certificate in our public register. We keep audit findings and other client information confidential unless the client agrees or the law requires disclosure.