These Rules of Certification have been developed in accordance with the policies and procedures of the
Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ), the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC),
Accreditation Services International (ASI) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF). They apply to
TQCS International Pty Ltd, it's auditors, technical specialists and employees, applicants as clients,
clients who have achieved certification and relevant stakeholders. TQCS International Pty Ltd is referred hereunder as 'TQCSI'.
SCOPE
TQCSI provides independent, third party auditing and certification of management systems operated by
organisations seeking compliance to various International and other Standards, including ISO 9001 (QMS),
ISO 14001 (EMS), ISO 22000 (FSMS), HACCP, AS 4801 or OHSAS 18001 (OH&S), QHSE and other Small Business
Management Codes, and the MSC Sustainable Fishery Management and Chain of Custody certification criteria.
LEGAL STATUS
TQCSI, a proprietary company registered in Australia on 5 August
1994, is an independently owned and managed certification body operating
throughout Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. TQCSI is accredited by JAS-ANZ (www.jas-anz.com.au/register) and ASI on behalf of MSC (www.msc.org).
CONFIDENTIALITY
TQCSI is responsible for ensuring confidentiality is maintained
by its employees, auditors and technical specialists relevant to
any information with which they become acquainted as a result of
their contact with clients involved in the certification
process. Each employee, auditor and technical specialist is required
to sign and conform to a Confidentiality Agreement which assures
the confidentiality of client information at all times.
ORGANISATION STRUCTURE
The various international activities of TQCSI operate under the
umbrella of the TQCSI Group. TQCSI-MSC is a branch of TQCSI which
is responsible for MSC certification programs. A copy of the TQCSI
Organisation Chart is available upon request and defines
responsibilities, authorities and the inter-relationships.
GENERAL CONDITIONS
The basic conditions and requirements for obtaining and maintaining certification,
which each client must agree to and comply with,
are as follows:
The client will comply with the requirements of the relevant
Standard, the requirements outlined in this document and the
relevant Trade Mark Licence Agreement or Certification Contract.
The client is to ensure that all necessary information is
made available to TQCSI auditors to complete the certification audit.
A MSC client is also to ensure ASI and MSC has access to all necessary
information relevant to the certification process and agrees to relevant
reports being made public once application for full assessment has been made.
The client must comply with MSC requirements for public consultation,
monitoring and public information.
The frequency of all audits is to be determined by assessment of the risk
and technical factors pertaining to the certification. TQCSI reserves the
right to increase the frequency of auditing if the relevant management system
is considered to be nonconforming such that continued certification can not
be assured.
If TQCSI is not satisfied that all requirements for certification are being
met, the client will be informed of those relevant areas requiring attention.
TQCSI shall re-assess only the necessary parts of the System in order to review
remedial action taken as a result of previously identified major nonconformances.
TQCSI is at liberty, at extra cost to the client, to repeat audits in full if
the client fails to correct or reduce major nonconformances within three months of
identification or any other period of time determined by TQCSI.
Surveillance audits are to be conducted at least annually or more frequently
depending on the maturity of the System and size of the operation.
TQCSI reserves the right to conduct short notice audits of MSC certified
clients, particularly in response to complaints from stakeholders.
A re-assessment of the client's System, known as a Triennial Audit (or
re-certification audit for MSC) is to take place after every three year cycle
for management system certification, or five years for the MSC sustainable
fishery management program, and is to follow the same format as the initial
System Audit. The validity of a certificate cannot be extended as a result
of a partial re-assessment.
Certification is to apply only to the sites within the scope of certification
as agreed between TQCSI and the client and as stated on the Certificate of
Registration or Schedule of Registration. This scope is to be the subject of
the Trade Mark Licence Agreement or Certification Contract between the respective
client and TQCSI.
A request for an extension to scope of certification or an upgrade to another
Standard may, at the discretion of TQCSI, require an additional review of
documentation or additional audit time to assess compliance to the relevant Standard.
TQCSI reserves the right to revise the requirements of certification
within the period of validity of the certificate.
ISO management system clients are required to maintain a register of
complaints which may be audited by TQCSI. Each complaint received must
be investigated and corrective action taken, where considered appropriate.
ISO management system clients are expected to internally audit the entire
management system at least annually; this may be conducted by a second party
who is appropriately qualified and independent of the organisation.
ISO management system clients are expected to conduct a review of the
management system by senior management at least annually.
The client is to inform TQCSI of any changes to the scope of it's operations
which may affect the validity of the certification, including any multiple sites.
The issue of a Certificate of Registration in no way implies that the client's product
or service is approved by JAS-ANZ, ASI, MSC or any government department.
The client is not to use it's certification in a manner likely to bring TQCSI
into disrepute or make any statement regarding it's certification which TQCSI may
consider misleading or unauthorised.
The client is to have procedures that ensure information supplied by TQCSI is
kept up-to-date.
Auditors may occasionally be accompanied by TQCSI, JAS-ANZ, ASI or MSC witness auditors for monitoring of TQCSI processes.
This will not incur any cost to the client nor impede the scheduled audit in any manner.
CERTIFICATION MARK
The TQCSI Certification Mark is only to be used in reference to the site for which it
applies and is not to be affixed directly to the product, product packaging, including outer
packaging, or be used in such a way that product certification may be implied. This applies
equally to the JAS-ANZ Accreditation Mark.
Use of the relevant TQCSI Certification Mark is encouraged on stationery, literature and publicity material.
Similarly, the JAS-ANZ Accreditation Mark may be used by clients once certified for programs for which
TQCSI is accredited, but only when it is accompanied by the TQCSI Certification Mark. When both Marks are used,
they are to be proportioned such that neither Mark takes precedence over the other. When using the TQCSI
Certification Mark on letterhead, stationery, literature or publicity material, it is to be accompanied by
the Registration Number and Standard to which certification applies. Both, the TQCSI Certification Mark and
the JAS-ANZ Accreditation Mark, are available through the TQCSI website, www.tqcsi.com and local TQCSI Offices.
The TQCSI and JAS-ANZ Marks may be reproduced in a single colour to conform with existing company
stationery or newspaper and magazine article colouring, however, it cannot be reproduced in a
combination of colours from that specified by TQCSI. The Mark must also be reproduced clearly
and legibly, and is not to be used in any misleading manner.
Clients of TQCSI are not permitted use of the IAF MLA Mark.
MSC CERTIFICATION MARK
The MSC Logo (eco-label) is only to be used in reference to the certification for which it applies.
The MSC Logo, the name 'Marine Stewardship Council' and the initials 'MSC' are trademarks owned by Marine Stewardship Council.
The client is to, at all times, comply with the guidelines and regulations for using the MSC Logo,
both 'on-product' and 'off-product', described at www.msc.org/html/content_468.htm.
All use of the MSC Logo, the name 'Marine Stewardship Council' and the initials 'MSC' is to be in
compliance with the requirements specified in the guidelines for the use of the MSC Logo, and is
to be approved by the Logo Licensing Manager of Marine Stewardship Council International Ltd (MSCI)
who may be contacted by email at Alex.Hickman@msc.org. Control over the
display of the Logo is exercised through a licence agreement between
the client wishing to use the logo, on or off product, and MSCI.
Chain of Custody certified clients are to quote their Chain of Custody Registration Code on all
invoices in order for the fish and fish products to be able to enter further links in the chain of custody.
If a Fishery has not been issued with a joint Fishery and Chain of Custody Certificate, fish and
fish products from the certified fishery are not eligible to enter further links in the chain of custody.
The client is required to ensure that the name(s), trademark(s),
logo(s) and other identifiers of TQCSI are not used on, or
in association with, fish and fish products unless:
the fish and fish products have been certified by TQCSI-MSC
as meeting the requirements for labelling with the MSC Logo;
and
explicit written permission for such use has been provided
by TQCSI.
FEES
The client is to pay all fees in accordance with the terms of payment
as printed on the respective invoices within 14 days of receipt.
Cancellation or amendment to audit dates within two weeks of the
scheduled date may incur a fee equivalent to 50% of the auditing cost.
Cancellation or amendment to audit dates within two days of the scheduled
date may incur a fee equivalent to 100% of the auditing cost. Certification
may be suspended or cancelled if audits are not carried out within time frames determined by TQCSI.
SUSPENSION OF CERTIFICATION
TQCSI reserves the right to suspend a Certificate of Registration
for a limited period if:
nonconformances or other identified issues have not been
closed out within the designated time period;
the Certificate of Registration, TQCSI Certification Mark,
JAS-ANZ Accreditation Mark or MSC Logo are used in a misleading manner; or
there has been any other contravention of these TQCSI Rules
of Certification.
TQCSI will notify the client in writing of the suspension and issue
requirements to be satisfied prior to the removal of suspension. At the
end of the suspension period, an investigation is to be conducted to ascertain
whether requirements have been met. If they have been met, the client will be
informed in writing and the suspension removed; if they have not been met, the
Certificate of Registration may be withdrawn and certification cancelled.
Any costs incurred by TQCSI in the suspension or removal of suspension is to
be met by the client and the suspension may be published by TQCSI.
CANCELLATION OF CERTIFICATION
TQCSI reserves the right to cancel certification and withdraw a Certificate of Registration
if:
inadequate measures are taken by the client following suspension, or
the client fails to comply with it's financial obligations in regard to its certification.
If certification is cancelled, the client shall immediately cease use of the
TQCSI and JAS-ANZ Marks (or MSC Logo as appropriate) on all stationery,
literature and publicity material. Similarly, the Certificate of Registration is
to be returned to TQCSI or destroyed within 30 days of notification.
The client is to be informed when certification is cancelled and advised of the right of appeal.
No reimbursement of fees will be given and the cancellation may be published by TQCSI.
TQCSI shall cancel a Certificate of Registration at the client's request if:
the client does not desire to renew its certification, or
the client goes out of business or ceases to operate within the full scope of the certification.
No reimbursement of fees shall be given and the cancellation may be published by TQCSI.
COMPLAINTS
Should any client or other stakeholder have cause for complaint regarding the
conduct of TQCSI auditors, technical specialists or employees, the process of
certification or for any other reason, the complaint should be made in writing
and addressed to the President, TQCSI, PO Box 483 Woodville, SA, 5011, Australia
or by email to president@tqcsi.com. All such
complaints will be recorded, investigated, acted upon, where necessary, and the client advised of the outcome in writing.
If the client does not believe the complaint is satisfied, they
may appeal to the TQCSI Advisory Board.
APPEALS
Appeals resulting from a complaint (described above) or a decision
on certification must be made in writing to the Chairman, TQCSI
Advisory Board, PO Box 483, Woodville, SA, 5011, Australia or by email to chairman@tqcsi.com. If the
appeal is in relation to a suspension or cancellation of certification,
it must be made within 14 days of being advised of the respective
action. The appeal must include all known and pertinent facts of
the case. Relevant stakeholders have the right of appeal in relation
to any matter regarding MSC certification or an assessment report.
The TQCSI Advisory Board, or a relevant sub-committee, will investigate the case
and, if able, resolve the issue. The appellant will be informed in writing of the
results of the appeal. If the appellant remains dissatisfied then a further appeal
may be made directly to JAS-ANZ (in the case of JAS-ANZ accredited programs) or MSC
(for MSC certification). The decision of JAS-ANZ or MSC will be final and binding on,
both, the client and TQCSI.
In instances where the appeal was upheld and the client is reinstated with
certification, no claim may be made against TQCSI for reimbursement of costs
or losses associated with the action taken.
LIST OF CERTIFIED ORGANISATIONS
TQCSI will maintain a register of all clients who have achieved certification
and maintain that certification through TQCSI. This register, known as the List
of Certified Organisations, will be made available to the public through the TQCSI website
(www.tqcsi.com). Additionally, all clients registered with TQCSI under a program for
which TQCSI is accredited will automatically be included in the JAS-ANZ Register
or MSC Register, as appropriate.
INDEPENDENCE OF OPERATIONS
TQCSI is to conduct its operations separately and at arm's length from any other
company associated with management system or fishery management consultancy.
Separate procedures have been established to ensure there is no conflict of
interest in an auditor's assessment and the certification approval process.
