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Certification process

    Certification procedures

    Certification is done to instill confidence and trust with any stakeholder that the object or organisation has certain characteristics or is capable of achieving a specified minimum quality. To ensure this, it is important that the assessment is done by an independent, impartial and objective third party, called a certification body.

    Control Union Certifications aims to provide confidence and trust to all interested parties that a certified product, process, service or organisation is capable of fulfilling the requirements of the relevant inspection or certification standard to provide such confidence and trust, the certification process must be structured and based in competence, consistency and impartiality. It’s for that reason that the certification process is laid down in procedures, which describes the entire process, from application to certificate issuance and who is qualified to conduct such activities.

    Control Union Certifications procedures are based on the principles of objectivity and integrity. These procedures are discussed in our Advisory Council, which is made up of representatives from our main fields of operation, such as forestry, food production and processing, energy, trade, transport and consumers. The council is an independent body, advising the management of Control Union Certifications on development of policies and principles relating to impartiality, confidence in certification, including openness and public perception with the aim to challenge and safeguard Control Union Certification’s objectivity and impartiality.

     

    Planning, Phases, and Procedures

    Audit process

    An audit process contains the following steps;

    During the audit

    During the visit, your activities will be fully reported. We request you to give auditors the right and the necessary assistance to access your premises and/or your production companies. We also request you to enable our auditor to audit the relevant accounts and to take samples for analysis. These samples, if required by CU, have to be placed free of charge at the disposal of the auditor.

    Main elements of an audit

    • The opening meeting, in which the following elements are explained and discussed: – Confirm the previously documented scope of the audit (departments involved, scope, products, etc). – The audit plan and who will be looking at what and when. – The aim of the audit is to seek objective evidence that the system plan (QMS) conforms to the standard and that the organisation complies with its own processes and procedures. – Confirm the logistical arrangements (office accommodation, meals, etc). – Verify that staff has been informed that the audit is taking place and confirm access to facilities and records. – Workers will be interviewed during the audit and request a list of employees and invite any questions about the audit. – Statement as to the confidentiality of the findings

    The actual audit

    Auditors will be looking for evidence of compliance with the standard. During the audit they will visit facilities, interview workers and managers. Also documents and records will be checked. During all these activities auditors review the effectiveness and implementation of your system and how it complies with the appropriate standard(s). Auditors use standardised forms to lay down findings in writing. During the audit they will raise issues that they consider will result in non-conformities to be presented at the closing meeting

    The closing meeting

    The closing meeting, containing the following elements: – Give an overall summary and conclusions. – Any follow up actions to be taken, if applicable. – The method of reporting. – Which non-conformities have been found, the grading of these non-conformities, and their implications. – Invite the auditees to discuss specific points and agree on dates for the corrective actions necessary.

    Scope certificate

    Based on the result of the audit the Control Union certifier will take a certification decision. If the certification decision is positive, you will receive a scope certificate from us, stating your certified products processes and/or units and where the products are produced or processed.

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    We may take samples during an audit

    Samples

    In the process of an audit we may have to take samples. These are used to verify that your product is indeed in compliance with specifications. We are required to send these samples to a laboratory that is accredited to the ISO 17025 standard. Samples taken are divided into three parts. One part will be given to you to store as a counter sample (which we may need to use in specific situations at a later stage), one part will be sent to the laboratory and the third part will be kept by us, also as a counter sample.

    An on-going process

    After certification

    Auditing and certification are an on-going process. At least once a year Control Union Certifications has to carry out an on-site audit on each of your processing facilities in order to verify compliance to the applicable standards. Control Union will only perform audits on the sites that are mentioned in your application form. You must always inform Control Union about any change of your organisation’s activities (products/size/processing facilities) before the audit.

    Certification programs

    Control Union Certifications offers tailored or pre-made Certification Programs for sustainable sourcing in many industries. Here you will find an overview of all our Certification Programs offered worldwide. You can easily filter on your specific needs, industry or location. Let Control Union be The Proof to your Promise.

    All certification programs
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    Contact us please

    For any questions or assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Please use the contact information provided below to get in touch with us. Control Union Certifications Ukraine is ready to help.

    E-mail

    Phone

    Visiting Address

    • Sholudenka Str. 3, office 308 • 04116 • Kyiv• Ukraine