Process for management of certificates

Granting and maintaining certification

PricewaterhouseCoopers Certification B.V. (PwCC) examines the client’s management system and determines whether the requirements of the relevant ISO standard are met in all material aspects on the assessment date.

The decision whether or not to issue a certificate to the client is made by the Review Manager in consultation with the Lead Auditor based on the assessment results collected throughout the certification process.

Upon completion of our assessment, we issue a certificate stating whether, in our opinion, the client's management system complies with the requirements of the ISO Standard on the assessment date.

We can only issue our certificate without reservation if our assessment shows that the client has complied with the applicable requirements of the ISO Standard on the assessment date.

The certificate is valid for three years. During this period of validity, so-called surveillance audits are carried out periodically. We examine whether the management system is consistently observed and whether points for improvement identified are adequately addressed.

Organisations that PwCC has certified can be looked up on PwCC's website. It then shows the validity and status of the certificate and under which ISO standard the organisation has been certified by PwCC.

Refusal of certification

PwCC is under no obligation to enter into or maintain a business relationship with an organization if that organization's activities conflict with PwCC's policies.

PwCC may refuse certification for material or demonstrable reasons, such as illegal activity, non-compliance with certification requirements and similar reasons.

Renewing, restoring the certification

Towards the end of the three-year certification cycle (before the existing certificate expires), the PwCC team discusses the arrangements for recertification with the client.

When an organization wants to renew the certificate, the certification process must be restarted.

When the recertification is successfully completed and a positive recertification decision has been taken by PwCC, the new certificate will be issued. If recertification is not successfully completed, the certificate will not be renewed.

The certification can be reinstated within 6 months after it has expired, provided that the recertification work has been completed. If not, at least a stage 2 audit will be performed.

Suspend, withdraw or reduce the scope of certification

PwCC can suspend the certification of a management system at any time if PwCC is of the opinion that the management system cannot be assessed or if PwCC deems the management system to be inadequate. For example, as a result of a surveillance audit conducted by PwCC or if an incident has occurred. Certification may also be suspended if the client does not meet the requirements of its contract with PwCC, for example if the client does not pay invoices on time or if the client does not allow PwCC to carry out surveillance or recertification audits at the required times.

When a client's certification is suspended, it is (temporarily) invalid. In this case, PwCC will send a formal letter to the client to inform the client accordingly. Also, PwCC will update on its website the status of the relevant client's certificate. When a certification is suspended, the client may not promote its certification in any way or claim to be certified.

If the situation leading to the suspension of the certification is not remedied within ninety (90) days, the scope of the certification will be reduced or the certification will be revoked.

Certification can be reinstated if corrective actions are effectively implemented and if certification requirements are met.

PwCC will reduce the scope of certification if the client persistently or seriously fails to meet the certification requirements, so that those parts that do not meet the certification requirements are excluded.

The certification will be revoked if the client's management system does not significantly comply with the ISO Standard or agreements made and the client has not taken the necessary measures to resolve the non-conformity(s), that led to the suspension, in a timely manner.