IFS Integrity Program suspends certification body TÜV Austria Hellas Ltd based on the regulations of Annex 4, Version 3 of the framework agreement
Dear Sir or Madam,
as you might know the IFS Quality Assurance Management with its IFS Integrity Program is taking care of the quality of IFS audits using tools like control checks in certified companies, office audits in certification bodies and additional several IFS internal investigations of the IFS database.
On 1st May 2017 a new Annex 4, Version 3 of the framework agreement came into force. Since then certification bodies and auditors can get negative points in case of assessed breaches (e.g. more than 30 negative points for a certification body will lead to a 3 months suspension).
Current investigations by the IFS Integrity Program and respective decisions of the sanction committee led to circumstances that certification body TÜV Austria Hellas Ltd got more than 30 negative points since the new Annex 4, Version 3 came into force. Consequently the certification body has to be suspended for 3 months. The suspension time frame will start on the 15th of January 2018.
This means that, from the time of suspension according to the Annex 4 of the framework agreement
- The certification body TÜV Austria Hellas Ltd is not permitted to issue certificates whilst suspended; no certification decision shall be made.
- The certification body TÜV Austria Hellas Ltd is not permitted to schedule or perform audits whilst suspended.
- Sites with audits currently planned to be performed by certification body TÜV Austria Hellas Ltd during the above mentioned suspension period have to be contacted by certification body TÜV Austria Hellas Ltd. These sites should make arrangements with an alternative approved and accredited certification body for the scheme.
- A review has to be done of the processes operated by certification body TÜV Austria Hellas Ltd to ensure the validity of their currently issued certificates. The content and extent of the review shall be based on the reason for the suspension.
This decision of the IFS Integrity Program has no impact on all other IFS certified sites and certification bodies.
The IFS Office is aware, that this is a strict decision for the involved certification body TÜV Austria Hellas Ltd. Nevertheless this decision is in accordance with the current valid Annex 4, Version 3 of the Framework Agreement, which was signed by all certification bodies.
We kindly ask you for your understanding that IFS Integrity Program has to ensure that the IFS standard requirements are always respected and the integrity of the whole IFS program is guaranteed.
Download this newsletter here.
Your IFS Team
