EXAMPLES OF ACCREDITED CERTIFICATION BODIES

SANAS has accredited certification bodies operational in

the areas of certification of:

• Quality management systems;

• Product certification systems;
• Environmental management systems (EMS);
• BRC;
• ISO 22000;
• HACCP systems;
• GLOBALGAP systems (replacing EUREPGAP);
• Systems for certification of persons;
• Food Safety Management Systems;
• Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification
Scheme (PEFC) Chain of Custody;
• ISO 22003, ISO 14065

ENQUIRIES: ACCREDITATION
Must be directed to the relevant Accreditation Manager OF CERTIFICATION
BODIES
Website:
www.sanas.co.za
THE NEED FOR GLOBAL RECOGNITION
Accreditation provides formal recognition that a facility
meets certain standards. These are standards of quality,
performance, technical expertise and competence. The
need for South African certification bodies to achieve
national and global recognition, as well as conformity
against international standards, led to the establishment of
an accreditation programme for certification bodies under
the auspices of the South African National Accreditation
System (SANAS).
REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCREDITATION
Certification bodies must comply with the requirements in
the following international standards:
• ISO/IEC 17065 General requirements for bodies
operating product certification systems;
• ISO/IEC 17024 Conformity Assessment: General
requirements for bodies operating certification of
persons;
• ISO/IEC 17021 Conformity Assessment:
Requirements for bodies providing audit and
certification of management systems.
Certification bodies accredited by SANAS for
certifying:
• Organisations for HACCP and ISO 22000 need to
comply with ISO/IEC 17021;
• Organisations for GLOBALGAP systems (replacing
EUREPGAP) & BRC need to comply with ISO/IEC
17065;
• Organisations for Occupational Health & Safety
need to comply with ISO 17021. All certification
bodiesmust comply with the relevant International
Accreditation Forum (IAF) documents where
applicable.
PROFILE OF ASSESSORS
The assessors are representative of the public, private and
academic sectors. They undergo comprehensive training
and are identified for training in new fields as required.
Participants are trained in:
• The interpretation of the aforementioned guides and
standards;
• Accreditation criteria;
• Assessment techniques.
A standard part of the course is simulated assessments of
certification bodies based on real case studies.
ASSESSMENT TEAM
The assessment team is made up of a lead assessor and at
least one assessor with experience relevant to the area
being assessed.
Role of the lead assessor
The lead assessor is responsible for managing the
assessment team and assessment process, and assessing
the management requirements. The assessment plan is
communicated to the applicant organisation prior to the
initial assessment
Role of the technical assessors
The technical assessors are responsible for advising the lead
assessor on specialist matters relating to the capabilities of
the organization being assessed.
The assessors' functions are to:
• Observe certification bodies conducting certification
audits;
• Evaluate the suitability of procedures;
• Evaluate certification body personnel with regard to
experience, qualifications performance and training;
• Interview staff members;
• Report to the lead assessor.
APPLICATION FOR ACCREDITATION
An organisation wishing to obtain accreditation should
follow this process:
• Submit a completed online application form to
SANAS;
• SANAS will provide prospective applicants with a
detailed quotation based on the scope of the
application;
• SANAS arranges for a document review of the
organisation's quality manual;
• If the quality manual addresses all the requirements
of the relevant standard, the arrangements for the
initial assessment may proceed;
• If not, the organisation is requested to make the
necessary amendments and submit these to
SANAS.
RESULTS OF ASSESSMENT
The assessment team records the details of areas assessed
and makes a recommendation to the Approval Committee
(AC).
Where deficiencies are identified, these are recorded as
non-conformances requiring action by the certification
body prior to granting accreditation.
GRANTING ACCREDITATION
After SANAS has received evidence that all non-
conformances have been addressed, the SANAS
Approval Committee (AC) reviews all documentation
associated and advises the CEO on the decision for
accreditation.
After accreditation is granted, a six-month follow-up
assessment is scheduled to ensure that the system has
remained fully operational. Surveillance visits are scheduled
thereafter.
Accreditation is valid for three (3) years, subject to all
accreditation requirements being maintained.
INTERNATIONAL LINKS
SANAS, in association with the Certification Body Specialist
Technical Committees (STC), aligns its requirements and
procedures relating to accreditation with those of
international counterparts.
At present, SANAS is signatory to the Mutual Recognition
Agreement with the International Accreditation Forum
(IAF).
USE OF THE SANAS ACCREDITATION SYMBOL
AND COMBINED MARK
Once accredited, a facility is entitled to use the
accreditation symbol on its reports, certificates, marketing
material and stationery, in accordance with the rules as
prescribed by SANAS.
The facility is also entitled to use the combined mark (the
SANAS accreditation symbol and the ILAC logo combined)
subject to signing the sub-license agreement.