QA International News

UKAS WEBSITE ERROR – MARCH 2012

Please be advised that due to unforeseen technical problems within UKAS, the UKAS website is currently listing QAICL as ‘Voluntary Suspended’. This is an error on the part of UKAS and can only be corrected by the UKAS technical team. We would confirm that QAICL is not suspended for QMS activities and UKAS would be happy to acknowledge this point to any enquirers requiring clarification on this matter. Both QAICL and UKAS should like to thank you for your patience whilst this error is resolved.

NEW UKAS LOGO

UKAS have launched a new generic Management System Accreditation Symbol for Certification Bodies.

Following consultation with The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), stakeholders and customers, a new single generic management system accreditation symbol accreditation symbol has been introduced. The new symbol will in due course replace all of the existing management system accreditation symbols that currently specify the type of management system covered by the accreditation. A period of five years is being given for certification bodies to implement the change with full implementation by 31st August 2014.

Details of New Registration Logos incorporating the UKAS Mark are now available to all customers from QA International Head Office.

JAPAN DISASTER - QAICL POLICY 13/04/2011

The following Policy has been declared by the Governing Board of QAICL, further to recent events in Japan and after consultation with UKAS on appropriate measures for QAICL Certificate holders in affected areas.

In essence, the requirements of draft document ‘IAF ID Z:201Q Issue 1’ will be adopted until further notice. The exception on provisions in this document, placed upon UK Accredited Certification Bodies by UKAS, being that there is only a three Month ‘period of grace’, rather than the six months suggested in the Document.

In real terms for Auditors and Customers the process will be as follows:

When a surveillance Audit is due, the QAICL Local Office will raise a surveillance report as usual, which will detail the alternative measures it has taken to establish a quality system still exists within the Client Company. This may include telephone interviews, references to copies of Internal Audit Reports, Meeting Minutes and other management system reference documents obtained from a Client and sufficient to make a case for continued registration. If such documents are not available, then an Audit Programme will be attached to the report detailing when such documents are to be available or an Audit visit is scheduled. Either case must be within Three Months of Certificate expiry to accord with UKAS requirements. Certificates raised on the basis of such reports shall be issued for twelve Months in line with the normal Certification cycle.

When a recertification Audit is due, the QAICL Local Office will raise a re-certification report as usual, which will detail the alternative measures it has taken to establish a quality system still exists within the Client Company as above. An Audit Programme will be attached to the report detailing when the recertification Audit can be scheduled and this must be within the Three Months of original re-assessment due date. Upon receipt of the recertification report a Certificate shall be issued for Three Months as an interim measure pending actual Audit for continuation of Registration.

During the periods of interim Certification above, the rights of the customer to claim Certification and display Registration Marks shall be protected.

BRC UPDATE – REPORTS

Customers and Suppliers to BRC Retail Standards should be aware that the BRC is currently implementing a new ‘BRC Directory’ wherein all BRC reports from Certification Bodies are uploaded and distributed to relevant parties. Due to technical problems within BRC, some QAICL reports are not able to be uploaded – the BRC are currently investigating how this interface problem may be resolved. In the interests of maintaining supply-chain integrity, customers and suppliers should be aware that QAICL is still arranging its own issue of reports until the BRC problem is resolved. Supply-chain organisations seeking any further advice or assistance in this matter may contact QAICL Administration staff at IHC on +44 (0)1642 777733 or may email peter@qai.co.uk

Public Notification

Alberk QA Teknik Kontrol ve Belgelendirme Hizmetleri Ltd Sti. trading as qatechnic and QA Technic (website www.qatechnic.com) is no longer a representative of QA International Certification Limited United Kingdom. This includes the the related company at www.qatechnicindia.com.

All customers in Turkey will be approached with details of how to maintain registration by our new representative (Click Here) for contact details.

Fake Web-Sites

QAICL has discovered the following bogus website(s) :-

QAICThailand.com
qaics.com
ukasqaic.com
qaicchina.com
qaicusa.com
qacertification.co.uk
qaic.com

Please be advised that the sites above are not of QAICL origin.

Incorrect Claims to QAICL Affiliation

QAICL has discovered the following Web-site(s) that claim affiliation to the Certification Services of QAICL where no such affiliation exists :-

http://start_shen.en.b2b168.com/shop/supply/17113170.html

Customers

The following customers have recently had registration suspended / withdrawn by the QAICL Board :

Company	Number	Status	Effective Date
Power World Machinery Equipment Co. Ltd.	CN/70407	Suspended	22/12/2009
Assure Tech (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd.	CN/101364	Suspended	31/03/2011
MHMS Trading.	PK/1372	Suspended	18/04/2011