Rules and Regulation for certification

1.0 INTRODUCTION

NECA’s Global Certification Limited (NGCL) is a legal entity incorporated by the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria. The main objective of the company is to offer independent third-party certification to organizations against International Standards; (e.g. ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System) worldwide.

NGCL is in the process of being accredited by EGAC.

2.0 CRITERIA FOR GRANTING CERTIFICATION
NGCL may grant and issue the certificate to the client under the following criterion

  1. The client has a documented Management system that is laid down in accordance to its scope of certification and that conforms to the requirements of the applicable Management System Standard as mentioned above.
  2. The Client has implemented the management system and have completed at least one cycle of internal audit and management review of the management system established.
  3. Both internal audit and management review have been found effective as assessed by NGCL auditors
  4. The client has paid all the dues including the certification fee
  5. The client shall keep a record of all complaints and actions taken and the same shall be submitted to NGCL auditors for verification when requested.
  6. The client has undergone the stage-1 and stage 2 audit satisfactorily and the recommendation of the audit team is favourable

3.0 CERTIFICATION PROCESS

3.1 CERTIFICATIONAGREEMENT

On acceptance of the Quotation, the certification agreement is signed between NGCL and the client for providing certification of the client’s management system by NGCL to the applicable international standard.

3.2 STAGE 1 AUDIT & DOCUMENTATION REVIEW

NGCL shall conduct a stage 1 audit at client site to verify the adequacy of documentation with respect to the requirements of the applicable standard and also to understand and gather further information on the client activities and processes including applicable statutes, to plan for the stage 2 audit. The client shall satisfactorily resolve all the observations raised in document review along with other concerns / issues highlighted during the audit and the same confirmed to NGCL before planning the stage 2audit.

NGCL shall submit a formal report to the client.

3.3. STAGE 2 AUDIT

NGCL’s audit team shall visit the client’s premises, as per an agreed plan, to verify effectiveness of the client’s management system in meeting the requirements of the applicable ISO and other international management system standard. NGCL shall submit a formal report to the client.

3.4 NON-CONFORMITY REPORT

If a nonconformance is detected during audit, a Nonconformity Report shall be issued to the client. For the non- conformities raised during the audit client shall submit the correction and the corrective action (based on root cause) to NGCL office within 20 working days from the last day of the audit. NGCL shall verify the submitted correction and the corrective action and confirm the acceptance of the same to the client. Client shall take the correction and corrective action within the stipulated date and submit the documentary evidence to NGCL to verify the effectiveness of action taken and accordingly to close the non-conformances.

In case of a major non-conformance, the effectiveness of action taken shall be verified at client site by a follow up visit or as communicated by the team leader on the closing day of the audit. This shall be completed within 90 days from the last day of the audit.

In case of certification audit (new client), NGCL shall cancel the audit under the following conditions.

  1. Client does not submit Corrective Action Plan for the Non Conformity raised within 20 working days as stipulated above
  2. In case of major Non-Conformity the verification of effective of corrective action is not completed within 90 days as stipulated above

In case of certified clients NGCL shall suspend the certificate under the following conditions

  1. Client does not submit Corrective Action Plan for the Non-Conformity raised within 20 working days as stipulated above
  2. In case of major Non-Conformity, the verification of effective of corrective action is not completed within 90 days as stipulated above

3.5 RECOMMENDATION FOR CERTIFICATION

NGCL shall recommend certification of the client’s management system, based on the following

  1. NGCL has reviewed the audit reports and has accepted the recommendations of the audit team
  2. The client has submitted the correction and corrective action for the non-conformities raised within the stipulated time and NGCL has accepted the same
  3. In case of a major non-conformance, the effectiveness of correction and corrective action is verified by NGCL’s auditors as agreed and the non-conformity either closed or downgraded to minor.

If the client is not recommended for certification NGCL shall accordingly inform the client.

3.6 ISSUE OFCERTIFICATE

NGCL shall issue the certificate against the applicable standard to the client provided that,

  • NGCL has verified the effectiveness of the corrective actions in case of major non- conformances or accepted the corrective actions for minor non-conformances as stated in section 3.4. or as required by the specific management system standard
  • NGCL has taken a decision in client’s favour.

The Certificate is the property of NGCL and shall be produced to NGCL as and when requested.

The certification will be valid for a period of three years from the date of approval of certification, subject to the satisfactory maintenance of the Management System as confirmed through agreed surveillance audits

3.7 SURVEILLANCE AUDIT

Surveillance audits shall be conducted regularly at the client site at least once a year to confirm that the Client’s Management System continues to conform to the requirements of the standard to which it is certified.

The first surveillance audit shall take place within twelve months from the initial certification decision date and failure to comply with this requirement will lead to suspension and subsequent withdrawal of certification.

For the non-conformity raised during the surveillance audit the conditions stipulated in section 3.5 shall be applicable

In the case that a surveillance audit cannot be carried out because the client’s operations are affected owing to factors outside its control, e.g.: employee union strike, natural calamity, etc. the case shall be presented to NGCL for a decision.

NGCL shall submit a formal report to the client

3.8 RE-CERTIFICATION AUDIT

The purpose of re-certification audit is to confirm the continued conformity and effectiveness of the client’s management system as a whole and its continued relevance and applicability for the scope of certification.

The Re-Certification audit shall include site audit and shall consider the performance of management system over the period of certification and shall also include a review of previous surveillance audit reports. The re- certification audit may have a stage 1 audit in situations where there have been significant changes to the management system, the client or changes to legislation.

NGCL shall conduct the re-certification audit at least 60 days in advance to the expiration of certification so that the client has time to implement corrective actions before the expiry of the certification

For non-conformities raised during the audit, the conditions specified in section 3.4 become applicable. NGCL shall submit a formal report to the client.

3.9 SPECIALAUDIT

  • NGCL shall conduct special audits under the following conditions,
    • Extension of the scope of certification already granted, on the request of client. This could be clubbed with routine surveillance audit.
    • To investigate complaints received by NGCL about the client.
    • Follow up audit in case of suspension.
    • Follow up audit for Major non-conformance reported in any of the audits namely, certification, surveillance and re-certification
    • Changes in NGCL’s certification requirements
    • Transfer of certification
    • Reduction in scope as requested by the client
    • Decisions by the Certification Panel based on the results of the review of the audit reports to re-verify and confirm certain aspects of the management system.
  • In case of short notice audits to investigate complaint, response to changes and follow up of suspension, NGCL shall select auditors from earlier audits done on the client, because of the lack of opportunity for the client to object to the audit team
  • For non-conformities raised during the audit the conditions identified in section 3.4 shall become applicable.
  • NGCL shall submit a formal report to the client.

3.10 NOTICE OF CHANGES BY NGCL

NGCL shall inform the client in advance any changes to its requirements for certification and shall subsequently verify that each client complies with this requirement. It shall necessitate a special audit in certain cases.

3.11 NOTICE OF CHANGES BY THE CLIENT

Client shall inform NGCL, without delay, any changes in the organization which may affect the certification granted and these may include changes related to,

  1. The legal, commercial, organizational status or ownership,
  2. Organization and management (e.g. changes in key managerial, decision making or technical staff).
  3. Contact address and sites.
  4. Scope of operation under the certified management system.
  5. Major changes to the management system and processes.

NGCL shall review the changes and accordingly discuss with client for an early verification to ensure that the capability of the management system continues to fulfill the requirements of the applicable standard.

3.12 MAINTAINING CERTIFICATIONS

The Certification is maintained for a period of 3 years under the following conditions:

  1. The Surveillance Audits are conducted as planned and the client has demonstrated that it continues to satisfy the requirements of the management system standard as confirmed by NGCL.
  2. All the non-conformance raised during previous surveillance are closed within the time frame agreed and correction and corrective actions for the non-conformities raised during the current audit are identified and accepted by NGCL as per conditions specified in section3.4.
  3. The Internal Audit and the management reviews are conducted as scheduled and there are no issues pending.
  4. The client shall maintain suitable records of customer complaints and keep the records of investigation and remedial actions taken with respect to such complaints for verification by NGCL auditors.
  5. All outstanding dues to NGCL are paid.

3.13 SUSPENDING, WITHDRAWING OR REDUCING THE SCOPE OF CERTIFICATION

(a) Suspension

NGCL shall suspend certification in cases wherein

  • The client’s certified management system has persistently or seriously failed to meet certification requirements, including requirements for the effectiveness of the management system.
  • The client does not allow surveillance and re-certification audits to be conducted at the agreed frequencies.
  • Wishful misuse of logo & reference to certification.
  • Non-compliance to submission of Corrective action as stated in section3.4.
  • Non-payment of dues to NGCL

The suspension shall be for a period of maximum six months and the suspended status of the client shall be publicly made available in the register of certified clients being maintained by NGCL at its registered office. During this period the client’s management system certification is temporarily invalid and the client shall discontinue the use of logo or any reference of certification in advertising matter.

(b) Withdrawal

NGCL shall withdraw the certificate under the following circumstances.

  • Failure of the client to resolve the issues of suspension within six months shall result in withdrawal of certification
  • Other reason like major legal complaint, company involved in malpractices, NGCL loses accreditation etc.
  • Client voluntarily requested for a withdrawal.

Upon withdrawal of certification the client ceases to enjoy the certification status and the client shall immediately cease use and distribution of any literature, stationary etc bearing the mark and also discontinues the use of any advertising matter that contains any reference to a certified status. The artwork supplied, and all the original approval certificates are to be returned to NGCL.

(c) Reduction in scope of certification

NGCL shall decide to reduce the client’s scope of certification by excluding the parts not meeting the requirements when the client has persistently and seriously failed to meet the certification requirements for those parts of the scope of certification. Such exclusions shall be consistent with the certification standard.
Upon request from any party, NGCL shall provide information related to the validity of a given certificate.

3.14 CERTIFICATION AND USE OF LOGO

The certificates issued by NGCL remain the property of NGCL and must be returned where requested. The client authorized to use the certificate mark or its logo in advertising matter as per instruction given by NGCL at the time of issuing the certificate.

The client, while using the its certification, shall ensure that it,

  1. Conforms to requirements of NGCL when making reference to its certification status in communication media such as Internet, brochures or advertising or other documents.
  2. Does not make or permit any misleading statement regarding its certification.
  3. Does not use or permit the use of the certification document or any part thereof in a misleading manner,
  4. Upon suspension or withdrawal of its certification, discontinues its use of all advertising matter that contains a reference to certification, as directed by NGCL.
  5. Amends all advertising matter when the scope of certification has been reduced,
  6. Neither the certification body’s nor the accreditation body’s logo shall be used on the packaging of a product, labels, publicity material, written announcements etc. that in any way suggest that the certification body or the accreditation body have certified or approved any product, process or service of the certified body or in any other misleading manner
  7. The logo shall not be used on vehicles except in publicity material like part of a large advertisement
  8. Logos shall not be displayed on buildings and flags
  9. The logos shall also not be applied to laboratory test, calibration or inspection reports or any form of certificates issued by educational institutions as such reports/ certificates are deemed to be products in this context.
  10. Does not imply that certification applies to activities that are outside the scope of its certification,
  11. Shall not use the certification in such a manner that would bring NGCL and /or the certification system into disrepute and lose public trust
  12. Logos shall also not to be applied on visiting cards

PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION

NGCL shall make the following information publicly accessible through its web site and through documents PD-02., PD-04

  • The activities of NGCL
  • The requirements for certification including information on the audit processes and certification process for granting, maintaining, extending, renewing, reducing suspending and withdrawing certification.
  • Certification status of clients through the register of certified clients maintained at NGCL’s office
  • Appeal and complaint process.

All other information shall be treated as confidential.

OBLIGATIONS OF THE APPLICANT / CERTIFIED ORGANIZATION

  1. The applicant / certified organization shall commit to fulfil continually the requirements of certification set by NGCL for the scope for which certification has been granted including adapting changes in requirements for certification as and when communicated
  2. When requested the applicant / certified organization shall cooperate with NGCL in the fulfilment of the requirements for certification. This shall apply to all locations included in the certification
  3. The applicant / certified organization shall provide access to information, documents and records as necessary for granting certification and maintaining certification
  4. Certified organization shall allow the personnel from the accreditation body (e.g. EGAC etc ) access to their sites and shall provide access to information , documents and records when requested by NGCL or Accreditation Body
  5. The certified client shall claim certification only with respect to the scope for which certification has been granted
  6. The certified organization shall not use its certification in such a manner as to bring NGCL into disrepute
  7. The applicant / certified organization shall pay fees as determined by NGCL
  8. The applicant / certified organization shall inform without delay any significant changes relevant to the certification in respect of its status or its operation related
    1. Its legal, commercial or ownership status
    2. The organization, top management & key personnel
    3. Resources and premises
    4. Scope of certification
    5. Other such matters that might affect the ability of the certified organization to fulfil requirements of certification
  9. The client shall surf NGCL web site periodically to get updates on changes in the certification requirements, if any, referred under “updates” on its website and it is obligatory on the part of the client to abide by these changed requirements as stated in such public documents (e.g. PD-02).

3.17 OBLIGATIONS OF NGCL

  1. NGCL shall make publicly available information about the status of certification that it has granted the certified organization. The information shall be updated regularly. The information shall include the following
    1. Name and address of the certified client
    2. Dates of granting certification and expiry date as applicable
    3. Scope of certification
  2. NGCL shall give due notice of any changes to its requirements for certification. It shall take into account the views expressed by interested parties before deciding on the precise form and the effective date of the changes. Following a decision on, and publication of , the changed requirements it shall verify that each certified client carries out necessary adjustments
  3. NGCL shall ensure that the Management System Certification to all clients is provided independently, impartially and in fair manner. The policies and procedures under which NGCL operates the certification services are non-discriminatory and are administered in a non-discriminatory manner
  4. NGCL shall submit an audit summary report to the organization audited and also to the accreditation body as per the requirement of the accreditation body. The report will be treated in strict confidence
  5. On request from any party the information regarding the validity of certification for any specific client is also communicated by NGCL in writing with intimation to the client
  6. When confidential information about a client is made available to external bodies e.g. accreditation body or peer assessment body as per NGCL’s agreement with such external bodies, the same shall be informed to the client by NGCL.
  7. Whenever NGCL shall post the updates of the public documents on its web site, it shall also make a reference under the heading “updates “for information of all concerned. NGCL shall highlight the changes in such public documents (e.g. PD-02) for the immediate attention of all concerned.

3.18. NGCL OFFERING OTHER SERVICES (e.g. CE marking and other management system certification)

If any client who has taken services from NGCL with respect to specific management system certification e.g. ISO 9001 and specific scope, applies for another scope under ISO 9001 NGCL shall not give any special consideration to the client in terms of any financial or any concession in the requirements of new scope.

3.19 CHANGES IN THE SCOPE OF CERTIFICATION (CERTIFIED ORGANIZATIONS)

Under the management system certified, there is a provision for change in scope for certification and this shall be applicable to the following cases (This however does not apply to the reframing the scope to bring-in more clarity without change in the activity or the process)

  • Extension in the scope (e.g. addition of a different product or new initiative/activity)
  • Reduction in the scope (e.g. discontinuing certain products or processes or activity)
  • Change in the location (shifting of factory, office to new location)

The above changes can be affected only after verification and confirmation by certification body and the following requirements should be met by organization seeking change in scope.

  • The organization has amended the management system documentation with respect to the changes and has implemented the same and have the same subjected to at least one internal audit.
  • The change in scope can be done either with surveillance or re-certification provided the organization informs the certification body (NGCL) at least 30 days prior to the audit due. Any short notice requests for changes will not be entertained

 

3.20 Tasks given to Audit Team

The task given to audit team shall include,

  • To examine and verify the structure, policies, processes, procedures, records and related documents of the client
  • To determine that these meet all the requirements relevant to the intended scope of certification
  • To determine that processes and procedures are established, implemented and maintained effectively to provide a basis for confidence in the client’s management system
  • To communicate to the client, for its action, any inconsistencies between the client’s policy, objectives, targets and the results

4.0 GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITION

  1. Termination– The client and NGCL shall have the right to terminate this agreement at any time giving 30 days of written notice of such termination. The client shall, in case of termination, reimburse to NGCL all the dues up to date of termination. NGCL, if it so wishes, shall also charge a termination fee to be negotiated at the time of termination and this is in addition to the dues that are payable to NGCL. In no case such termination fee shall not exceed 15% of the value of the agreement. All reimbursable are payable at the end of said 30 days period.
  2. Confidentiality– NGCL shall not disclose any information about the client or individual to a third party without the written consent of the client or the individual concerned. If NGCL is required by law to release confidential information to a third party, the client or the individual concerned shall, unless regulated by law, be notified in advance of the information provided.
  3. Force majeure– Delay in or failure of performance of either party hereto shall not constitute a default hereunder or give rise to any claim for damage if and to the extent such delay or failure is caused by an act of war, natural disaster, fire, explosion, labor dispute or any other event beyond the control of the party affected and which, by the exercise of reasonable diligence, said party is unable to prevent. The party affected shall notify the other party in writing of the causes and expected duration immediately after the occurrence of any such event.
  4. Law & disputes-All disputes and claims as to the content of this agreement or issues that might arise between the parties either to the agreement or transactions or issues that the parties might not have envisaged shall first be resolved through a meeting by the authorized representatives of the parties. Failing which should be referred to arbitration and failing which to the court. A single arbitrator shall be jointly appointed by the parties or the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Nigeria. The decision of the arbitration shall be binding for the both parties.
  5. Appeals: Client shall appeal to NGCL in respect of the following,
    1. Non acceptance of client’s application for certification
    2. Not granting, suspending, withdrawing or denying of certification

NGCL shall deal with the appeals according to its procedure and shall be responsible for all decisions at all levels of the appeal handling process as per NGCL procedure QP-13

NGCL shall acknowledge the receipt of the appeal and shall provide the client with progress reports and the outcome.

  1. Complaints: NGCL shall investigate the complaint received about the client to decide what action need to be taken and the same shall be communicated to the client at an appropriate time as per NGCL procedure QP-13. The identity of the complainant shall not be disclosed.
  2. Fees The fees shall be detailed in the quotation submitted by NGCL. Fees are charged on the basis of applicable rates at the time of submission of the quotation. NGCL may revise the fee submitted in the quotation during the Certification period. Clients shall be notified of any change in the fee.

If any special audit is performed on the client as detailed in section 3.9, NGCL shall charge an extra fee for such audits to cover the audit charges and other administrative costs and this shall be payable within 7 days from the date of invoice.

Cancellation of Audit shall involve re-imbursement of expenses incurred by NGCL, if any.

  1. Access to the client site: The client, at the request of NGCL or Accreditation Body, shall permit access to their sites and records for NGCL’s auditors and / or authorized personnel on behalf of the accreditation body to which NGCL is accredited. The same shall be communicated to the client in advance.
  2. Agreement Period: The agreement signed comes to force on and remains in the force until the expiry of the certificate, unless withdrawn for justified reasons or withdrawn by either party upon due notice given to the other party.
  3. Liability: NGCL’s liability shall be limited to providing certification of the client’s management system and shall not in any way be responsible for the liabilities arising out of the client’s products or services. In any event the liability shall not exceed the amount of fee paid against the certification adjusted proportionately.