Suspension or withdrawal of ISO Certification

With the privilege of awarding certification comes the responsibility of withdrawing it when the required standards aren’t complied with.

At Citation Certification, the responsibility to maintain, suspend, or withdraw ISO certification is taken with the utmost seriousness. ISO certification represents a commitment to quality and compliance with international standards. However, there are instances where suspension or withdrawal of certification may be necessary. In this article, we explain the conditions where suspension or withdrawal might occur and the processes involved.

What is ISO certification suspension?

ISO certification suspension is a temporary pause on the validity of your certificate. During suspension, you must not claim certification or use certification marks, and your certificate will be recorded as suspended until the identified issues are corrected and verified. If the required actions are not completed within the agreed timeframe, suspension can lead to withdrawal.

Why could my ISO Certification be suspended?

ISO certification suspension can occur under several circumstances. As a certification body, Citation Certification follows strict guidelines dictated by accreditation rules:

1. Persistent or serious non-compliance: if your management system has persistently or seriously failed to meet the requirements of the ISO standard, such as ISO 9001 or ISO 14001, suspension may be necessary.
2. Assessment frequency non-compliance: failing to allow regular assessments to be completed as required can lead to a suspension.
3. Voluntary suspension: sometimes, a certified client might voluntarily request a suspension of the certification.

Should a major non-conformance be identified, you’ll typically have 30 days to rectify the issue. During this period, the certification status will remain ‘suspended’ until the corrective actions are verified and the non-conformance is resolved.

How do I get my ISO Certification reinstated after suspension?

Reinstating an ISO certification after suspension due to non-conformance involves:

• Corrective action completion: once the major non-conformance has been adequately addressed, and the corrective actions have been verified, the non-conformance can be closed or downgraded.
• Restoration of certification status: following the resolution of the issues, the certification status is immediately restored to normal, lifting any temporary suspension.

What is ISO certification withdrawal?

ISO certification withdrawal is the permanent cancellation of your certificate. Once withdrawn, you are removed from the certification register and cannot claim certification or use certification marks. Regaining certification requires starting the process again, including a new assessment to demonstrate compliance with the relevant ISO standard.

Why could my ISO Certification be withdrawn?

Withdrawal of ISO certification can happen voluntarily or be initiated by the certification body under specific circumstances:

1. Voluntary withdrawal: an organisation may decide it no longer requires the certification and can formally request its withdrawal.
2. Certification body-initiated withdrawal: reasons might include:
   1. Failure to arrange an assessment within the designated timeframe.
   2. Non-payment of due invoices.

At Citation Certification, we are committed to supporting our clients through the complex landscape of ISO certification management. Whether dealing with ISO certification suspension, recertification audits, or withdrawal of the certification, our team ensures that every certified client continually meets the scope of certification requirements effectively.