| 1 | Objective |
| 1.1 | This procedure describes the necessary steps that ANAB should take with regard to the misuse of accreditation. |
| 2 | Definitions |
| None. |
| 3 | General Provision |
| 3.1 | The accredited certification body holds total responsibility for the use and promotion of accreditation. It assumes the charges and is subject to penalties imposed if an infraction is discovered. |
| 4 | Misuse of the Accreditation |
| 4.1 | Among others, the following are considered examples of misuse: |
| a) | use of accreditation before the contract with ANAB is signed; |
| b) | use of accreditation after withdrawal of the contract; |
| c) | misuse of promoting that is in disagreement with item 5 of this procedure; |
| d) | use of accreditation outside of the validity of the contract/certificate; |
| e) | use of accreditation during the time of suspension; |
| f) | use of accreditation for other scopes for which the organization was not accredited; |
| g) | use of accreditation without fulfilling the obligations defined in the contract; |
| h) | failure to follow procedures and rules established in the accreditation process; and |
| i) | use of accreditation symbol jointly with the certification body mark in the product certified by this body. |
| 5 | Promotional Diffusion |
| 5.1 | When the accredited body has a commercial or advertising catalog, the reference to accreditation can only be made in specific fields of the accredited scopes, without raising any doubt for which area the body was accredited. |
| 5.2 | Any publicity involving under-evaluation of the accreditation, abusive, false or extensive to other scopes not having been accredited should not be published. |
| 6 | Penalties |
| 6.1 | The penalties for misuse of the accreditation by accredited organizations are: |
| a) | warning; |
| b) | suspension of accreditation, partial or total, without withdrawing the contract; |
| c) | withdrawal of accreditation certificate of the contract. |
| 6.1.1 | ANAB can apply any of these penalties independently of the sequence established in item 6.1 above. |
| 6.2 | In case of withdrawal or suspension of the accreditation, the certification body needs to inform its clients about the decision taken by ANAB. |
| 7 | Appeals |
| 7.1 | If the accredited certification body does not agree with the accreditation decision taken by ANAB, it can formally appeal to ANAB against the decision (PR 1024 Appeal Procedure). |