There are more and more schemes that allow group certification. E.g. PEFC CoC (https://cdn.pefc.org/pefc.org/media/2020-02/66954288-f67f-4297-9912-5a62fcc50ddf/23621b7b-3a5d-55c9-be4d-4e6a5f61c789.pdf – par.2.3option b:) and also other local (Dutch) schemes.
However, we also see schemes under the 17065 that do not lay down requirements for group certification. Group certification in our view is certification of a certificate holder including multiple independent companies (separate legal entities from the certificate holder) having no relation to each other. Only the relation with the certificate holder connects them together.
With the withdrawal of EA-6/04 M: 2011 EA Guidelines on the Accreditation of Certification of Primary Sector Products by Means of Sampling of Sites no guidance or mandatory documents exits for this situation at all. Not for the primary sector but also not for other sectors.
- Does EA confirm that there are no requirements from the EN ISO/IEC 17065 on the certification body that directly apply to group certification besides the requirement to operate one or more certification scheme(s) (7.1.1.of 17065)?
- If a certification scheme has no mention of group certification as an option, is it possible for the CB to apply it anyway, or do the requirements have to be laid down in the scheme?
Does EA confirm that, if group certification is allowed in a scheme, at least for the supporting management system scheme requirements, the relevant requirements of the EN ISO/IEC 17021-1 apply including the IAF MD 1 (multi site) requirements even if MD1 is not mentioned in the scheme?
September 2022
1- Yes, there is no specific requirement for applying for group certification in the standard.
2- No, Even if it is not clearly stated in the standard, as per EA1/22, the requirements for group certification have to be laid out in the certification scheme, including specific requirements for the application of group certification.
3- Yes, IAF MD1 should be referenced in the scheme.