IAF MD 7:2023 Harmonization of Sanctions and Dealing with Fraudulent Behaviour

Bulletin date:
Bulletin number:
2024-01

Action required

Take note that the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) has released IAF MD 7:2023 IAF Mandatory Document for the Harmonization of Sanctions and Dealing with Fraudulent Behaviour earlier this year.

 

Affected customers

All SCC-accredited Management System Certification Bodies, Verification and Validation Bodies, Certification Bodies operating in Certification of Persons and Product, Process, and Service Certification, as well as applicants, assessors and other interested parties in these areas.

 

Background

SCC, as an Accreditation Body (AB), is required under ISO/IEC 17011:2017 to have procedures for suspension, withdrawal or reduction of an accredited scope and to initiate the process for withdrawal of accredited conformity assessment body’s (CAB) scope under certain circumstances. Outlining and communicating those circumstances is the responsibility an AB and IAF has issued IAF MD 7:2023 to clarify the situations where sanctions shall be applied to applicant or accredited conformity assessment bodies (CABs).   
 

Situations that lead to sanctions may include but are not limited to:

  • Failure to resolve nonconformities in accordance with AB’s procedures. 
  • Negative outcome of a complaint investigation.
  • Misuse/misrepresentation of an accreditation symbol (see ISO/IEC 17011:2017 clause 4.3.5 and NOTE).
  • Non-compliance with relevant laws, regulations, decrees or directives, as applicable to the accreditation scope. 
  • Situations described in Clause 4 of IAF MD 7, including evidence of fraudulent behaviour (see 4.1).
  • Non-payment of fees to the AB.
  • By issuing this mandatory document for ABs and clarifying certain situations that fall within premises of fraudulent behaviour, IAF desires improved and consistent application among ABs.

  • Note: IAF ID 15:2023 – Dealing with Fraudulent Behaviour(link is external) provides more information for regional accreditation groups, accreditation bodies and certification bodies should they be required to deal with fraudulent behaviour.

     

New requirements

None

 

Deadline

None

 

Questions?

For more information, please contact William O’Neill, Manager Business and New Program Development at woneill@scc-ccn.ca or +1-613-238-3222.