When certain conditions apply, MSC Global will grant, refuse, maintain, renew, suspend, restore or withdraw Certification, or expand, or reduce the scope of certification. The details that relate to these matters are clearly identified in the Client Agreement, which all Clients sign prior to certification of their Systems.
Granting Certification
A review by an MSC Global Certification Committee member must be conducted prior to deciding granting of Certification. The MSC Global Certification Committee member shall confirm that the audit team has provided all information required and all Client requirements have been met. The MSC Global Certification Committee member shall confirm whether or not the audit team has provided MSC Global with sufficient information concerning Certification requirements and the scope for certification for Certification to be granted.
For any major non-conformities, MSC Global’s Certification Committee member must review, accept and verify the correction and corrective actions prior to granting Certification. Any minor non-conformities must be reviewed and the Client’s plan for correction and corrective action accepted by MSC Global’s Certification Committee member, prior to Certification being granted.
Maintaining Certification
MSC Global’s decision to maintain Certification is based on demonstration that the Client continues to satisfy the requirements of the Management System standard.
Renewing Certification
MSC Global’s decision to renew Certification is based on the results of the Recertification audit, as well as the results of the review of the System over the period of Certification, and complaints received from users of Certification.
Suspending Certification
MSC Global will suspend Certification in cases when, for example:
- The Client’s certified Management System has persistently or seriously failed to meet certification requirements, including requirements for the effectiveness of the Management System;
- The certified Client does not allow Surveillance or Recertification audits to be conducted at the required frequencies;
- The certified Client has voluntarily requested a suspension;
- The certified Client has refused to pay MSC Global’s invoice(s) within a reasonable timeframe.
Under suspension, the Client’s Management System’s Certification is temporarily invalid.
NOTE: In most cases, the suspension would not exceed six months.
Restoring, Withdrawing or Reducing Certification
MSC Global shall restore the suspended Certification if the issue that has resulted in the suspension has been resolved. Failure to resolve the issues that have resulted in the suspension in a time established by MSC Global shall result in withdrawal or reduction of the scope of certification.
Expanding the Scope of Certification
In response to an application for expanding the scope of a certification already granted, MSC Global shall undertake a review of the application and determine any audit activities necessary to decide whether or not the extension may be granted. This may be conducted in conjunction with a Surveillance audit.
Reducing the Scope of Certification
MSC Global shall reduce the scope of certification to exclude the parts not meeting the requirements, when the certified client has persistently or seriously failed to meet the certification requirements for those parts of the scope of certification. Any such reduction shall be in line with the requirements of the Standard used for Certification.
