Governance
Decision process
Accreditation decisions are structurally independent from evaluation activities. This separation — mandated by ISO/IEC 17011 § 7.6 — protects impartiality, ensures consistency, and sustains public trust in the accreditation system.
Evaluation function
The assessment team (Lead Assessor + Technical Assessors) gathers objective evidence during document review and on-site assessment.
- Assessors review documentation against the applicable standard (ISO/IEC 17025 or 17020).
- On-site assessment verifies implementation of the management system and technical competence.
- Findings are classified: no findings, observations (minor), or nonconformities (major/minor).
- The assessment report — including all evidence, findings, and the applicant's corrective-action plan — is submitted to the Case Coordinator.
Decision function
The Accreditation Committee deliberates independently of the assessment team.
- Committee members are screened for conflicts of interest before every case.
- Only the assessment report, corrective-action evidence, and the applicant's submission are considered.
- No assessor participates in the decision deliberation for a case they evaluated.
- The decision and its rationale are documented in a formal record.
Decision workflow
The following steps illustrate the path from completed assessment to final decision.
1. Report submission Lead Assessor submits assessment report to Case Coordinator within 10 business days of the closing meeting.
2. Corrective action review Case Coordinator verifies that all nonconformities have acceptable corrective-action plans and evidence (max 60 days).
3. Conflict screening Compliance Office screens each Committee member for conflicts with the applicant.
4. Dossier distribution Cleared Committee members receive the full dossier at least 5 business days before the meeting.
5. Committee deliberation The Committee reviews evidence, asks clarifying questions (through the Coordinator), and deliberates.
6. Voting & decision Decision is reached by simple majority with a quorum of at least 5 of 7 members present.
7. Notification The applicant receives a formal decision letter within 5 business days. The Directory is updated simultaneously.
Decision outcomes
| Outcome | Meaning | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Grant | Applicant meets all criteria within the declared scope. | Certificate issued; listing published in Directory. |
| Grant with conditions | Criteria met subject to minor conditions to be cleared within a set deadline. | Conditions tracked; full status upon clearance. |
| Defer | Significant gaps remain; further evidence or re-assessment required. | Applicant addresses gaps; re-assessment may be scheduled. |
| Deny | Fundamental non-compliance; criteria not met. | Applicant may re-apply after a minimum 6-month cooling period. |
| Suspend | Existing accreditation temporarily removed due to findings or non-compliance. | Accredited body must resolve within 90 days or face withdrawal. |
| Withdraw | Accreditation permanently removed. | Listing updated; no claims permitted; re-application after 12 months. |
Quorum & voting rules
- Quorum: At least 5 of the 7 Committee members must be present (in person or by secure video).
- Voting: Decisions are by simple majority. Abstentions do not count toward the majority.
- Tie-breaking: The Committee Chair casts the deciding vote only in the event of a tie.
- Record keeping: Minutes include each member's vote, rationale, and any dissenting opinion.
- Meeting frequency: Monthly scheduled sessions; extraordinary sessions may be convened within 5 business days for urgent matters.
Appeals
Any applicant or accredited body may appeal a decision within 30 calendar days of the decision letter. Appeals are reviewed by a panel that is structurally independent from both the assessment team and the original decision committee.
File an appeal →