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.