IAF Resolution 2015–14 – Non-Accredited Certification Where the MS CB is Accredited for the Same Scope – The General Assembly, acting on the recommendation of the Technical Committee, resolved that IAF Accreditation Body members shall have legally enforceable arrangements with their accredited CABs that prevents the CAB from issuing non-accredited management systems certificates in scopes for which they are accredited.
IAF Resolution 2016-17 – Accredited MS Certification Document – Further to Resolution 2015-14, The General Assembly, acting on the recommendation of the Technical Committee, resolved that in order for a management system certification document to be considered accredited, it must display the accreditation symbol, and/or, reference the accreditation status of the CB including the identification of the AB.
There is a concern on interpreting the resolutions regarding the prohibition to issue non-accredited certification on scopes for which CAB have accreditation.
Question is that if the to be certified management system scope includes two or more industrial areas (in our case NACE codes) for example construction of buildings (NACE 41) and architectural and engineering activities (NACE 71) and for one CAB is accredited and for another it is not accredited.
In this case:
- can the CAB issue one certificate including both activities (both NACE activities) in the certification scope and issue certificate without reference to accreditation or
- issue two certificates, one with reference to accreditation and with the accredited scope (NACE accredited) and other certificate for the scope (NACE which is not accredited) without reference to accreditation
- say no to certification.
March 2020
It seems that the second option is the best solution to follow above IAF resolutions. In practice, most of the CBs have small number of accreditation scopes using this approach.
“issue two certificates, one with reference to accreditation and with the accredited scope (NACE accredited) and other certificate for the scope (NACE which is not accredited) without reference to accreditation.”
For this issue there is an IAF TC decision:
16/10/06 Scopes on Accredited Certificates The accredited certificate must be clear and not misleading. With the new resolution (14-2015), an accredited certificate shall be issued for the part of the scope of certification that falls within the scope of accreditation. If a portion of the scope of certification is outside the scope of accreditation (when allowed within the certification standard), then multiple certificates shall be issued. Refer to ISO 17021-1 8.2.2 9 (g). New Delhi 12.6