Process of Suspending, Restoring or Withdrawing Certification or Expanding or Reducing the Scope of Certification
1. Reducing, Expanding or Amendment of Certification Scope Or / And Company Information
1.1 Reducing, expanding or amendment of certification scope or/and company information may be initiated by
a) Customer or
b) Audit team during certification cycle, which significant changes to their operation or activities, which may affect conformity to Quality Management System.
1.2 For reducing, expanding or amendment of certificate scope the customer is responsible to notify FCM promtly prior to any audit conducted and reissue of certificate. For changes of company information example changes of company name, the customer shall provide relevant evidence before reissue of certificate without conducting the audit.
1.3 Authority of reducing, expanding or amendment of certification scope or/and company information shall be determined by Certification Panel.
2 Suspension and Withdrawal of Certificates
2.1 Suspension or withdrawal of certificates may be recommended by Certification Panel.
2.2 The Certification Panel shall consider all pertinent facts available and decide whether to instruct a withdrawal or cancellation of certificate.
2.3 A certificate may be suspended by FCM if the client fails to comply with the relevant scheme requirements, but such a failure is temporary in nature, and is being corrected by the client. A suspension will normally be for a maximum of 3 months, although in exceptional circumstances a further 3 months period may be permitted. During the suspension the client must discontinue its use of all advertising matter that contains a reference to certification. FCM will require evidence of satisfactory corrective action before a suspension is lifted. A client may voluntarily request suspension, for example if he knows that his products or services will be temporarily out of compliance. Suspension of certification need not be published by FCM, however it is available to public upon request.
2.4 A certificate will be withdrawn by FCM if the client fails to comply with the relevant scheme requirements, where such a failure is permanent in nature, and is not being corrected by the client. Such a failure would normally be detected during audit activities. Withdrawal may also result from other reasons (e.g. refusing to allow audits to take place, failure to pay invoices, closure of premises, liquidation etc.). The client will be instructed to cease using all marks or other references to scheme membership, and to return the certificates. Failure to comply may lead to appropriate further actions by FCM, such as the involvement of trading standards, legal action, public notices in trade journals etc. Withdrawal of certification shall result in an amendment to the directory reference.
2.5 The client shall be informed of the decision to suspend or withdraw a certificate and offered the right of appeal according to procedure OP08.
2.6 Where the client seeks the right of appeal, certification shall be considered suspended until the outcome of the appeal.