SUSPENSION of certification
If the client does not act according to the certification rules TKL may take one of the following measures:
SUSPENSION of certification can be done in the following cases:
- In case there is any big changes in client’s activities and / or processes up to on-site audit.
- in the case that TKL received any information from official institutions or the media-supported with data- about non-compliance relating to or directly connected with the activity / activities of the certified client, then TKL implements suspension until the completion of the investigation as to whether the information is accurate and until the moment when the non-compliance, if any, is removed.
- when the client fails to remove the non-conformities raised in the audit in agreed time frame.
- In case there is local authority complaint or notification.
The deadlines for the removal of non-conformities must not be longer than:
For large non-compliance – lack, failure or non-compliance of the whole standard point or failure to comply with standards or regulations or a serious threat to food safety – 90 days from the date of initial audit and 60 days from the surveillance.
For a small nonconformity – partial non-performance of standard point – 28 days when the certified client has voluntarily seeking suspension of the certificate.
- If there is a change of subjects and scopes of application of the management system (scope of certification), and the client did not act in accordance with the procedure S 012 for scope expansion and reducing.
- When a client performs untimely payment of certification services.
- In the case of certified client does not allow to carry out regular surveillance audits:
- the first one before the expiry of one year from the date of the certification audit(± 30 days)..
- the second one before the expiry of two years from the certification audit. (± 30 days).
- on the basis of complaints by third parties, client’s users of products or other interested parties.
In the case of occurrence of conditions for the suspension, the decision taker shall decide on the suspension. The decision on the suspension is time limited to a maximum of 3 months. The notice shall be delivered to the customer within 3 working days, stating the reason for taking such measures.
On basis of the notice of certification suspension, the Client implements corrective measures to eliminate the causes of nonconformities which caused the suspension of the certification, which reports TKL and submit relevant evidences.
Verification of implemented corrective measures, as a rule, is done on the client’s place in a form of complete additional audit.
In any of the above-mentioned case / reason TKL is required to change the status of the client from active to suspend on the website, and must state the reason for the suspension. The suspension is raised to a maximum period of 3 months, provided that the client may request termination of suspension if the reason for suspension is removed.
Termination of the certification agreement shall be made in the following cases:
- TKL will terminate the certification agreement if after 3 months of suspension the client did not eliminate the reason for the suspension completely, TKL will permanently cancel certification and withdraw the certificate permanently.
- If happens that the client committed an infringement in delivering accurate information to legal documents (eg. From the register of legal entities) and in general when it comes to accuracy and authenticity of data TKL certification will terminate the contract.
- When the client’s management system and food safety has a constant and serious difficulties to meet the requirements of the standard, including requirements for the effectiveness of the management system and food safety.
- In the case of abuse or misuse of certification and accreditation signs.
- In case of failure to eliminate the causes for which the client was suspended certification within the deadline set TKL, which may not be longer than 3 months.
- When a client requests a voluntary withdrawal of certification and agreement cancelation.
During withdrawal of the certificate, the certificate holder is obliged to do not use any longer the TKL certification sign and to guarantee that the documentation which stands in relation to that will not be used. The certificate holder is obliged to return to TKL the certificate within 15 days from the date of the decision by the decision taker which is verified by the signature of the Director TKL. The notice shall be delivered to the client within 3 working days, stating the reason for taking such measures.
Information on suspended and canceled certificates are uploaded on the TKL website immediately and without delay, and is responsibility of the Quality Manager.
During the suspension period (3 months) certificates that are suspended are visible on the site TKL. After the expiry of this period, TKL withdraws information from the website, but they are still available on request. The same act in case the certification agreement is canceled. All certificates withdrawn due to termination of the certification agreement are visible on the site TKL for 3 months, then are withdrawn from the site and the information about it remain available on request.
If there is a complaint from the client to this Decision shall be dealt with according to procedure M 004 Procedures for managing objections, appeals and discrepancies in interpretation.