[DRAFT FOR USGSR APPROVAL — summary of the full certification rules in the certification agreement]
These rules apply to every organization certified by US Global Standards Registrars. They form part of the certification agreement and protect the value of every USGSR certificate.
Maintaining Certification
Certified organizations must:
- continue to meet the requirements of the certification standard and these rules;
- allow surveillance audits at least once a year, and a recertification audit before the certificate expires;
- give auditors access to people, sites, records and information needed for the audit;
- correct nonconformities within the agreed timeframes;
- keep records of complaints received about their certified activities, and make them available to auditors; and
- pay fees as agreed.
Notifying Changes
Tell us promptly about changes that may affect certification, including changes to legal status, ownership, key management, address or sites, scope of activities, or major changes to the management system or processes. Some changes may need a special audit.
Suspension, Withdrawal and Scope Reduction
Certification may be suspended if, for example, surveillance is not completed on time, major nonconformities are not resolved, or the certificate is misused. During suspension the certificate must not be used. If the issue is not resolved within the stated period, certification is withdrawn. Where only part of the scope no longer conforms, the scope may be reduced. Every status change is published in our verification system.
Use of Certificates and the USGSR Mark
Certified organizations may:
- display their certificate and the USGSR certification mark on stationery, websites and promotional material, clearly linked to the certified scope and sites; and
- state that their management system is certified to the relevant standard by USGSR.
Certified organizations must not:
- use the certificate or mark on a product, product packaging or laboratory test or inspection report in a way that suggests the product is certified, when it is the management system that is certified;
- suggest that certification applies to activities or sites outside the certified scope;
- use the certificate or mark while certification is suspended or withdrawn;
- alter the certificate or mark, or use it in a misleading way; or
- use the accreditation body’s mark except as permitted by its rules and ours.
On withdrawal or expiry, all use of the certificate and mark must stop, and promotional material must be updated.
Full Rules
The complete certification rules form part of the certification agreement and are available on request.