| 1 | Objective |
| 1.1 | 1.1. This procedure provides the ANAB criteria, process and guidelines for the accreditation of certification bodies in accordance with ANAB procedures and ISO/IEC 17065. In addition, the requirements for Certification Bodies set forth in this procedure are specific requirements relating to operation of a Type I Environmental Labeling Certification Program. The Type I Environmental Labeling Certification Scheme will be evaluated in accordance with ISO 14020 and ISO 14024. |
| NOTE: This Type I Environmental Labeling Certification procedure is applicable to third-party programs that administering Type 1 Environmental Ecolabels Certification Schemes |
| 2 | Definitions |
| 2.1 | As a general rule, definitions of ISO/IEC 17000 and ISO/IEC 17011 are applicable. |
| 2.2 | The definitions of ISO/IEC 17065, ISO 14020, ISO 14024 and ISO 14050 are applicable. |
| 2.3 | Type I Environmental Labeling Scheme Owner/Program Owner |
| 2.3.1 | A Type I Environmental Labeling scheme owner is a legal entity, which has established a conformity assessment scheme and which can take responsibility for the conformity assessment scheme design. The scheme owner can be the Conformity Assessment Body (Certification Body). If a Certification Body does not develop the scheme but operates a scheme owned by another organization, the CB is responsible to provide objective evidence that demonstrates the scheme of another organization conforms to the requirements of ISO 14024. The CB must indicate the scheme name, owner of the scheme and indicate if the scheme is public or a proprietary (developed by the CB for use by the CB) |
| 3 | Application and Accreditation Requirements |
| 3.1 | The application and accreditation requirements are found in PRO-PL-102. The following clauses below add further additional requirements for the Type I Environmental Labeling Program |
| 3.2 | The CB must identify the basis for the evaluation by indicating conformance to one or more of the following international standards, as applicable:
1) ISO/IEC 17025
2) ISO/IEC 17020
3) ISO/IEC 17021-1
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| 3.3 | Additional information as part of the application: |
| a) | scope of the desired accreditation (list of scopes as defined in the International Classification for Standards [ICS] codes for public schemes) or defined by the proprietary certification scheme; |
| b) | whether the body is operating: |
| 1) | Product certification scheme(s); |
| 2) | Process and service certification scheme(s); |
| c) | disclosure of the relationship of the certification body to the scheme(s) including applicable licensees; |
| d) | certification scheme(s), policy manuals and procedural documents such as certification scheme (s) procedures; |
| e) | the scheme that addresses the Type I ecolabeling product categories, product environmental criteria and product function characteristics and includes information that demonstrates: (1) it conforms with the applicable scope, principles, practices and requirements of ISO 14024; (2) availability of methods to verify the product environmental criteria and product function characteristics; and (3) opportunity availed to interested parties to participate in the process and have their views taken into consideration. |
| 3.4 | ANAB staff shall evaluate the application for completeness, using ANAB requirements as defined in ANAB Policy PRO-PL-102, ISO/IEC 17065, ISO 14024 and any other applicable certification scheme requirements. Additional information and/or clarification may be requested from the applicant |
| 4 | Document Review and Initial Assessment |
| 4.1 | Requirements of PRO-PL-102 are adhered to for the document review and initial assessment process. |
| 4.2 | Assessment team shall be selected based on competence and absence of potential conflict of interest. The same process is followed for selecting the assessment team for the annual surveillance and reassessment of an accredited certification body (CB). |
| 4.3 | During initial assessment, key/critical locations shall be selected to ensure that sufficient objective information can be collected to verify that the documented certification procedures and all certification schemes in the scope are implemented. |
| a) | If the certification body operates a certification scheme spread across multiple key/critical locations with no one key/critical location housing all the certification activities, then assessments shall cover as many additional key/critical locations and key activities as necessary to collect objective information to verify that documented procedures are implemented. |
| b) | If the certification body operates more than one certification scheme, then assessments shall cover as many additional key/critical locations as necessary, to verify that the documented procedures are implemented.
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| The minimum number of sites shall be as stated in the PRO-PL-102
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| 4.4 | The assessment team, including technical assessor(s), shall have no ties with the applicant CB which may influence the assessments. Team members are required to maintain the confidentiality of all information obtained about the applicant or the CB and its operations. The assessment team shall have appropriate knowledge of the specific scope for which accreditation is sought. ANAB will implement the PRO-PR-175 related to risk analysis. |
| 4.5 | The assessment team reviews the application, if an initial assessment, and any documentation including the completed PRO-FR-105-17065/14024 checklist and PRO-FR-104-14024 application. The applicant or CB may be required by the team leader to provide additional information/clarifications before the accreditation process proceeds. The purpose of the review is to determine whether the certification body is operating in compliance with ANAB requirements, ISO/IEC 17065, ISO 14024 and any scheme requirements, and that the scheme is suitable to its purpose. The review includes applicable labeling requirements for the authority having jurisdiction such as the FTC Green Guides in the United States. |
| The document review must include a review of the scheme to determine the suitability of the scheme in accordance with ISO/IEC 17011 and PRO-PR-156. The scheme must meet the requirements of ISO 14024 Clause 6.1 to 6.6. The Objectives and Principles of ISO 14024 Clauses 4 and 5 should be considered in developing the scheme. The definitions used in the scheme must be consistent with those listed in ISO 14024 and ISO/IEC 17065. The environmental criteria must be selected based on ISO 14024 Clause 5.2 to 5.19. |
| 4.6 | The assessment team must determine if the scheme used by the CB is a public scheme or a proprietary scheme operated by the CB. |
| 4.6.1 | Public schemes must be acceptable to ANAB and meet the requirements found in PRO-PR-156 and not contradict ISO/IEC 17065. If the public scheme is deemed acceptable, the assessment team must indicate this acceptance on the PRO-FR-105-Checklist. |
| 4.6.2 | Proprietary schemes must be acceptable to ANAB and meet the requirements found in PRO-PR-156 and not contradict ISO/IEC 17065. The assessment team must review the scheme requirements for changes and report any changes to ANAB in the assessment report. If there are no changes, the assessment team is not required to look for objective evidence of scheme development during the surveillance years. |
| 5 | Conduction the Witness assessment |
| 5.1 | Witness assessments are performed by the technical assessor. The witness assessment performed by the ANAB technical assessor covers the CB auditor/inspector who performs an audit or inspection at one of their client's facilities. |
| 5.2 | Witness assessment(s) include, but are not limited to: |
| a) | assessment of testing and inspection facilities (internal or external), if appropriate; |
| b) | assessment of scheme activities during an audit/inspection conducted by a certification body of its clients; or |
| c) | observation of the operations of the certification body management and operation functions. |
| 5.3 | The ANAB technical assessor performs an opening and closing meeting with the CB's representative(s) during the witness assessment process. The ANAB technical assessor participates as an observer during the CB's audit. |
| 5.4 | The number of witness assessments is defined by the ANAB staff based on the number of CB clients, the product categories and the scope of accreditation. At least one witness assessment per scheme must be completed prior to accreditation unless the scheme requires ANAB to complete more witness assessments. The witness assessment samples in the process are used by the CB to demonstrate the implementation of a CB's procedures and conformance to the scheme. |
| 5.5 | Determination of the minimum number of sites for any assessment is found in the requirements in PRO-PL-102. The CB is provided with a confirmation of the assessment schedule and a detailed assessment plan for review and approval. |
| 5.6 | The ANAB assessment team shall analyze all relevant information and evidence gathered during the document and records review as well as the on-site or remote assessment. This analysis shall be sufficient to allow the ANAB assessment team to determine the extent of fulfillment of ANAB accreditation requirements, including competence, ISO/IEC 17065, ISO 14024, PRO-PL-102, and the applicant's own policies and procedures as well as any other applicable certification scheme (s) requirements. |
| If necessary or appropriate, formal nonconformity reports (NCRs) are issued for identified deficiencies which require root cause analysis and corrective action by the CB. The team's observations on areas for possible improvement shall be reported in writing to the applicant about the product certification program; however, consultancy shall not be provided. |
| 5.7 | The assessment team shall post to ANSICA any issued nonconformities, and/or opportunities for improvement in accordance with PRO-PR-106. |
| 5.8 | An assessment report covering all assessment activities is prepared by the assessment team (one from the lead assessor and one from each technical assessor) and the completed PRO-FR-105-17065/14024 checklist are uploaded into ANSICA. The report includes assessment details, NCRs issued and concerns identified. |
| 6 | Decision on Accreditation |
| 6.1 | ANAB staff shall follow the process defined in PRO-PL-102 for forming the Evaluation Task Group (ETG) and making the decision of accreditation. |
| 7 | Accreditation Information |
| 7.1 | ANAB shall determine accreditation fee(s) for each accreditation program as detailed in PRO-PL-102. |
| 7.2 | Initial accreditation documentation and continuing accreditation requirements are specified in PRO-PL-102. |
| 7.2.1 | The CB and the scheme owner must notify ANAB of any changes to the requirements of the scheme. When changes are required, the next scheduled assessment must address and report on the implementation of the changes. If there have been no changes to the scheme during a surveillance assessment, the scheme is not reviewed |
| 7.3 | The CB shall implement the certification activities as defined by ISO/IEC 17065 and applicable Type I Environmental Labeling Scheme requirements as developed by the Certification Body or other organization. The CB must be able to demonstrate that the requirements of ISO 14024 are met for the scheme development and adoption. |
| 7.4 | ANAB shall verify that the CB has entered into a license agreement with the scheme owner, if different from the CB before accreditation is granted. |
| 8 | Surveillance, Reassessment Suspension, Scope Addition and Reduction, Withdrawal and Termination |
| 8.1 | ANAB follows the requirements of PRO-PL-102 and additional scheme requirements. |
| 9 | Notification Requirements |
| 9.1 | Changes to ANAB Accreditation and Program Requirements are announced to all accredited Certification Bodies |
| 9.2 | Notifications are stated in PRO-PL-102 |
| 9.3 | The CB and scheme owner must notify ANAB of significant changes to the requirements. |