IMPARTIALITY STATEMENT AND POLICY

STATEMENT OF IMPARTIALITY

“ACK CERTIFICATIONS PRIVATE LIMITED (ACK) objects to deliver certification services in the field of third-party Training, auditing and certification. ACK CERTIFICATIONS PRIVATE LIMITED brings out its certification activities in an impartial manner and exercises the utmost care in handling conflicts of interest and ensuring objectivity in the certification process and decision-making. ACK CERTIFICATIONS PRIVATE LIMITED undertakes to maintain freedom in certification and Training activities without the influence of any commercial, financial or other interests.”

 

ACK’S COMMITMENT TO IMPARTIALITY

• ACK is committed to the principles of impartiality embodied within the ISO 17021-1:2015 standard for certification bodies offering management systems certification. In particular, reference is made to the impartiality of assessors in our internal procedures.
• ACK retains authority and responsibility for decisions made in regard to its activities. ACK is committed to not using its certification in such a manner as to bring the organization into disrepute and to not make any statements regarding its certification that it considers misleading or unauthorized.
• Policies and procedures are non-discriminatory and are administered in a non-discriminatory way. ACK makes its services accessible to all applicants.
• ACK does not provide certification services to which a related body has provided management system consultancy without analyzing the work.
• All personnel either internal or external are required to declare that they are free from any undue commercial, financial or other pressures, which could affect their impartiality.
• Personnel who have provided consultancy within two years to the organization seeking certification are not employed to take part in any part of the certification process. Contracted personnel are required to reveal any situation which may present a conflict of interest. Unless no conflict of interest can be demonstrated, personnel are not employed as assessors. ACK ensures that different people take decisions on certification (i.e., the Report Verifier) to those who carry out the assessment (the Lead Assessor).
• No services are provided by ACK that might be considered as having a conflict of interest.
• ACK does not assess or certify activities that it has itself performed. ACK ensures that the activities of related bodies do not affect the confidentiality, objectivity and impartiality of its certification. ACK avoids any situation that would create a conflict of interest arising from the activities of any related body, especially if the related body might have a vested interest in the outcome of any assessment process. MD or any of the directors, who is not a part of the audit team, are responsible for signing the certificates as they are not involved in the assessment or decision-making process.
• ACK identifies and documents the possibilities for conflicts of interest arising from the provision of certification whether they arise from within or from the activities of related bodies.
• If a conflict of interest is identified ACK does not provide certification to any related body.
• ACK will not be intimated by financial threats into the issuance of certificates
• ACK ensures that nothing is said or implied that would suggest that certification would be simpler, easier, faster or less expensive if any specified personnel or organization providing consultancy were used. ACK’s activities are not presented as being linked with the activities of any organization providing consultancy.

IMPARTIALITY POLICY

The definition of impartiality is “not prejudiced towards or against any particular side or party.” On the basis of that definition, ACK seeks to attain the highest degree of public confidence and trust in rendering unbiased services. ACK fully acknowledges the importance of impartiality in carrying out its certification body activities that are governed by the requirements of the International Standard ISO/IEC 17021. ACK and every member of its certification body team, employees, volunteers, and contractors commit to adhere to the following policies:
a. ACK shall act impartially, and its policies and procedures for certification of persons shall be fair among all its applicants, candidates and certified persons;
b. ACK shall not restrict certification on the grounds of undue financial or other limiting conditions, such as membership of an association or group;
c. ACK shall be responsible for the impartiality of its certification activities and shall not allow commercial, financial or other pressures to compromise impartiality;
d. ACK staff shall not suggest or imply to imply that certification would be simpler, easier or less expensive if consultancy.
e. ACK does not offer training as part of the certification. Candidates must attend an approved training course offered by manufacturers in the program;
g. ACK shall ensure, through internal procedures, the objectivity of the certification to manage potential conflicts of interest according to the standards of the applicable certification scheme;
h. ACK shall base all of its decisions on objective evidence obtained through an effective process based on objective evidence of conformity or nonconformity, and that any decisions made are not influenced by other interests or by other parties. Certification decisions are made and approved by a competent person who is free from influence by other interests or parties, including those of its clients;
i. ACK’s corporate policies and practices ensure that the highest standards of integrity are applied to all certification body activities;
j. ACK’s personnel will not be influenced by financial, commercial, or other pressures when conducting certification activities, and will take action to address any situation that would affect impartiality. Personnel are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest in the Declaration Form;
k. ACK shall not use personnel with an actual or potential conflict of interest and shall ensure that its personnel are free from commercial, financial or other pressures that might affect their judgement;
l. ACK’s personnel taking part in certification activities, both internal and external, shall act impartially when executing their responsibilities;
m. ACK shall identify threats to its impartiality on an ongoing basis. This includes threats that arise from its activities, its related bodies, its relationships, or the relationships of its personnel;
n. ACK shall enter into legally-enforceable agreements with its clients and retain all authority and responsibility for certification activities, decisions and statements;
o. ACK’s management system has the necessary procedures, safeguards and tools to ensure that these policies are strictly upheld and enforced;
ACK recognizes that threats to impartiality include the following:
• Self-interest threats – threats that arise from a person or body acting in its own interest to benefit itself;
• Self-review threats – threats arising from a person reviewing the work that they have conducted themselves.
• Familiarity threats – threats that arise from a person being familiar with or trusting of another person, e.g. an examiner or certification body personnel developing a relationship with a candidate that affects the ability to reach an objective judgment
• Intimidation threats – threats that prevent a certification body or its personnel from acting objectively due to fear of a candidate or other interested party;
• Financial threats – the source of revenue for a certification body can be a threat to impartiality.

ACK shall identify threats to its impartiality on an ongoing basis. This shall include those threats that arise from its activities, from its related bodies, from its relationships, or from the relationships of its personnel. The management team conducts an annual risk assessment on impartiality and conflict of interest and is responsible for ensuring that threats to impartiality and conflict of interest are reviewed regularly. Conflict of interest and objectivity is addressed further through binding agreements to ensure that all activities undertaken throughout the certification process are conducted in an independent and impartial manner.

ACK shall identify threats to its impartiality on an ongoing basis. This shall include those threats that arise from its activities, from its related bodies, from its relationships, or from the relationships of its personnel. The management team conducts an annual risk assessment on impartiality and conflict of interest and is responsible for ensuring that threats to impartiality and conflict of interest are reviewed regularly. Conflict of interest and objectivity is addressed further through binding agreements to ensure that all activities undertaken throughout the certification are conducted in an independent and impartial manner.

ACK has created a certification scheme committee to ensure the balanced involvement of interested parties. The certification scheme committee members fairly and equitably represent the interests of all parties and are responsible for the development of the certification scheme. This includes providing input and insight into the certification scheme, types of examination, processes and procedures regarding certification, recertification, surveillance activities, project audits and other related matters.