Certification Process for Management Systems
1
Application
- Application request reception;;
- Application review and documentation analysis;
- Prior visit, when applicable;
- Audit planning and audit team proposal.
2
Initial Audit (Stage 1)
- Audit plan;
- Audit execution;
- Audit report;
3
Initial Audit (Stage 2)
- Audit plan;
- Audit execution;
- Audit report;
- After the conclusion of this audit, if any non-conformity is identified, a Corrective Action Plan should be defined by the Organization, whose contents include: analysis of causes, planned actions, responsible parties and date of completion of actions;
- Audit report and corrective action plan analysis;
- Certification decision;
- Certificate issuance;
- In determining the time period between stage 1 and stage 2 audits, consideration is given to the needs of the Organization to solve audit findings identified during stage 1, but in no case can exceed one year.
4
Surveillance audits
- Audit plan;
- Audit execution;
- Audit report;
- Audit report and corrective action plan analysis;
- Decision of certification maintenance.
For more information:
Certification Process for Products, Services and Processes
1
Application
- Application request reception;
- Application review and documentation analysis;
- Establishment of the audit date and audit team proposal.
- Prior visit, when applicable
2
Initial Audit
- Audit plan;
- Audit execution with collection and test of samples, where applicable;
- Preparation of the audit report and analysis of the test results, where applicable;
- After the conclusion of this audit, if any non-conformity is identified, a Corrective Action Plan should be defined by the Organization, whose contents include: analysis of causes, planned actions, responsible parties and date of completion of actions;
- Audit report and corrective action plan analysis;
- Certification decision;
- Certificate issuance (the validity of the certificate depends on the product, process and service that is being certified) and right of use of the certification mark or licenses.
3
Surveillance audits
- Establishment of the audit date;
- Audit plan;
- Audit execution with collection and test of samples, where applicable;
- Audit report and analysis of the test results, where applicable;
- Audit report and corrective action plan analysis;
- Decision of certification maintenance.
For more information:
Complaints and Appeals
Complaints and appeals are handled in accordance with established procedures and are made available on request. The notification deadlines for receipt of the complaint / appeal and formal response by APCER to the complainant / appellant are set forth in these procedures and meet the requirements of the owners of the certification scheme, where applicable.
Complaints
Complaints addressed to APCER can be related to services provided by APCER or complaints about Entities certified by APCER.
APCER notifies the complainant/appellant of the receipt of the complaint and shall process it. APCER gathers and verifies all necessary information to validate the complaint. The analysis and treatment of the claim are performed by individuals not previously involved in the process, defining and implementing any action as deemed appropriate. APCER gives notice of the end of the process to the complainant.
Please note that only complaints received in writing will be considered in one of the following languages: Portuguese, English, Spanish and French.
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For any doubts and/or additional information, as well as the request of applicable procedures, you may contact:
Contacts and offices
Appeals
APCER considers an appeal any complaint presented by the Entity concerning the certification decision, within 30 days following the communication of the decision.
The appeals are evaluated by the Appeals Committee of APCER, which is composed by members that are independent from the certification process subject of the appeal. There is no appeal from the deliberations of this Committee.
Additional information:
General Regulation for Management System Certification
General Regulation for Product Processes and Services Certification
Resources and Useful Tools
