How does CB (Certification Body) 'Licensing' work?

J

JaneB

#1
I've been asked a question about a local CB (by someone who's wondering whether they're OK to use) and I'm trying to work out what its status is.
Their website say they are 'licensed' to do certification of management systems (including ISO 9001, which is the area of interest) through IQC.

Does anyone know how this 'licensing' works, as it's the first time I've heard of it.

There's a lot of logos on the website of the local CB and links to IQC - I'm having trouble working out who's actually doing what.
IQC has this certificate posted (accreditation from JAS-ANZ) dated 10th Dec 2008. Do certificates have a time limit?
 
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Stijloor

Staff member
Super Moderator
#2
I've been asked a question about a local CB (by someone who's wondering whether they're OK to use) and I'm trying to work out what its status is.
Their website say they are 'licensed' to do certification of management systems (including ISO 9001, which is the area of interest) through IQC.

Does anyone know how this 'licensing' works, as it's the first time I've heard of it.

There's a lot of logos on the website of the local CB and links to IQC - I'm having trouble working out who's actually doing what.
IQC has this certificate posted (accreditation from JAS-ANZ) dated 10th Dec 2008. Do certificates have a time limit?
In the CB business, could "Licensed" and "Accredited" have the same meaning?

Stijloor.
 

Marcelo

Inactive Registered Visitor
#3
If I understand it correctly, JAS-ANZ is the accreditation body of AU/NZ.

For CABs (conformity assessment bodies) what is required is accreditation, not "licensing" (although they may be using the wrong word).

If you go to the JAS-ANZ website, under JAS/ANZ Registrar > Accredited Bodies > You will find a list, which includes IQC. You can verify that they are under some managament system certification schemes, including quality, and in the list of standards there's the NZ version of ISO 9001.

What is really curious, is that it's listed they thay are only accredited to cerfification activities in some countries, and this do not include Australia and New Zealand :p So it does seem that they cannot perform certification schemes in thos countries.

And yes, certificates do have a time limit. It depends on which accreditation scheme the accreditator is into (generally IAF for management systems).
 
J

JaneB

#4
Thanks, Marcelo, I know the bit about JAS-ANZ being the accreditation body of AU/NZ, and the register, etc. etc.

I obviously need to be a bit clearer.

There seem to be two organisations involved:

'Certifyus' - it's this organisation that talks about being 'licensed' to do certification through IQC. Now, I've never heard of them before, but there's a lot of companies trying to extend their reach etc.

I'd done a search of the JAS-ANZ website and didn't find them listed. (Although I do know that the JAS_ANZ website can take a little while to be udated, particularly for newly certified companies AND it's a positive beast to use, often giving invalid results because it's so hard)

On their website 'Certifyus' say:
In conjunction with IQC Global we can certify the following Management Systems:
~ ISO 9001: 2008 Quality
~ ISO 14001: Environmental
~ AS 4801: OH&S
and:

License

Certify Us is an Australian company and as Australians we have been licensed by Integrated Quality Certification Pvt Ltd (India) IQC to certify your organisation.

OK, so then I go to the IQC website, eg this page

Now, both sites have IAF and JAS-ANZ logos plastered everywhere, and copies of certificates loaded... but I'm a trifle confused at this point.

This isn't my only point of concern, eg, any CB loudly proclaiming 30% cheaper! at least raises warning signs, but I'd like to understand what's going on, if possible.
 

Marcelo

Inactive Registered Visitor
#5
Oh, sorry for the long explanation, but I was not really sure what you meant :-(.

Anyway

You can also go to http://www.qcin.org/nabcb/accreditation/ and verify the accreditation of IQC.

In principle, ICQ does seem right to me (meaning, they seem to be accredited to doing certification of management systems).

'Certifyus' - it's this organisation that talks about being 'licensed' to do certification through IQC.
This is somwhat weird. Unless Certify us means that, for example, IQC used their auditors as third party auditors for IQC's audits of certification schemes, I don't see how they can be "licensed to do certification thru IQC". CABs cannot delegate certification responsibilities, at least as far as I know.
 

howste

Thaumaturge
Super Moderator
#6
ISO 17021 does allow for outsourcing (subcontracting) certification activities to other organizations. Maybe this is what they are doing?
ISO 17021:2006 said:
7.5.1 The certification body shall have a process in which it describes the conditions under which outsourcing (which is subcontracting to another organization to provide part of the certification activities on behalf of the certification body) may take place. The certification body shall have a legally enforceable agreement covering the arrangements, including confidentiality and conflict of interests, with each body that provides outsourced services.
The text is the same in ISO 17021:2011.

Have you tried asking Certifyus or IQC what their relationship is?
 

harry

Super Moderator
#7
In countries with strict 'franchise' laws like ours, business licensing is a way to circumvent it. As I know, many of our small local players have arrangements very similar to franchising with overseas CBs to represent and act for them.
 

Marcelo

Inactive Registered Visitor
#8
ISO 17021 does allow for outsourcing (subcontracting) certification activities to other organizations.
Activities, yes. Responsibilities, no. That´s why I found it weird what was mentioned in the site.

Anyway, if it´s the case of subcontracting activities (for example, arrangements as Harry mentioned), care should be taken related to the certificate issue - if I understand it correctly, the IQP mentioned is in India, and any certificate would be issued there. If you need a certificate issued in Australia/NZ, this wouldn´t help :)
 
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