1.0 Suspension of Certification
The grounds for suspending an ISO certificate issued by Guardian Assessment Pvt. Ltd. are as follows:
a) If the certified organization fails to have its surveillance audit conducted as per the certification agreement and schedule.
b) If the client is found to be misusing the Guardian Assessment Pvt. Ltd. certification logo or the logo of an accreditation body, or is making any misleading statements that could negatively impact the reputation of Guardian Assessment Pvt. Ltd. or its associated accreditation board.
c) If a significant complaint is received from a customer of the certified organization. Guardian Assessment Pvt. Ltd. will investigate the complaint, and if the organization is found to be at fault, the certificate will be suspended until the complaint is satisfactorily resolved.
d) In the event of non-payment of fees as per the contractual agreement.
e) If, during a surveillance audit, the organization’s management system is found to have a major non-conformance with the requirements of the standard.
Upon suspension, the client must cease using the certificate. The Guardian Assessment Pvt. Ltd. website and any public registers will be updated to reflect that the organization’s certificate is suspended and therefore temporarily invalid. If an organization is found to be using its certificate or making certification claims during the suspension period, legal action may be taken as per the contractual agreement.
Note: The verification of evidence to lift a suspension can be conducted on-site or off-site, depending on the nature of the issue.
2.0 Withdrawal of Certification
Any certificate issued by Guardian Assessment Pvt. Ltd. may be withdrawn under the following circumstances:
- If a surveillance audit is not scheduled and conducted within three months of its due date, despite notice being issued by Guardian Assessment Pvt. Ltd.
- A major failure to implement effective corrective actions for non-conformities identified during audits within the agreed-upon time limits.
- Failure to pay all appropriate and outstanding fees.
- Continued misuse of the certification mark or accreditation logo, such as in misleading publications or advertisements, or any other contravention of the conditions for their use.
- If the organization fails to resolve the issue(s) that led to suspension within 90 days from the date of suspension.
- If the corrective action evidence submitted by the organization to resolve a suspension is found to be unsatisfactory.
Upon withdrawal of a certificate, the organization’s name will be removed from the Guardian Assessment Pvt. Ltd. list of certified companies.
3.0 Extension of Certification Scope
At any point during the certification cycle, a client may request an extension to their scope of certification. Guardian Assessment Pvt. Ltd. will review the request and determine the necessary verification activities (such as an on-site audit) required to approve the extension, following the standard certification process.
4.0 Reduction of Certification Scope
The scope of certification may be reduced under two conditions:
- At the request of the client organization.
- If, during a surveillance or re-certification audit, the audit team identifies that parts of the certified scope are no longer being implemented or are no longer compliant.
Guardian Assessment Pvt. Ltd. will conduct the necessary verifications before formally reducing the scope.