CB Suspensions: FAQs

Questions and Answers

In accordance with ANSI National Accreditation Board’s (ANAB’s) policy manual, PRO-PL-102: Manual of Operations for Accreditation of Product Certification Bodies, ANAB may suspend, reduce, or withdraw its accreditation of a Certification Body if at any time during the term of the accreditation agreement the Certification Body defaults in any way on its obligations to ANAB.

ANAB communicates any infraction to the attention of the Certification Body for immediate correction. When ANAB accreditation is suspended, reduced in scope or withdrawn, ANAB includes this information on the ANAB website directory and in any way ANAB deems necessary.

ANAB communicates with the Certification Body in writing advising that if the matter is not immediately corrected, ANAB may suspend the accreditation for 60 days. If the matter remains unresolved, ANAB may extend the suspension or terminate the accreditation.

The suspension of a Certification Body does not result in the suspension of an SBP Certificate Holder. The Certification Body is still responsible for conducting planned surveillance audits during the period of suspension.

ANAB requires the Certification Body to notify its clients of their suspension status and any restrictions placed upon them during this time.

When a Certification Body is suspended it must not take on any new clients or perform initial or re-certification services.

Conduct of re-certification and/or completion of initial certification services started prior to, or planned to be undertaken after, the effective date of suspension shall be subject to explicit written approval by ANAB and SBP.

No. The SBP certification system ensures that there will be no adverse impact on the services provided to existing Certificate Holders. We anticipate that, if suspended, a Certification Body will work hard to get the suspension lifted.

It is only right that the accreditation body is able to impose sanctions in cases where requirements that apply to Certification Bodies are not met. In that way the quality and credibility of our certification system is upheld.