Natural Accreditation Services Email: info@naturalaccreditation.org

NATURAL ACCREDITATION

WHAT IS NATURAL ACCREDITATION?

Reliability through qualified natural conformity assessments

Requirements regarding the quality and qualified of goods are continuously increasing as a result of the liberalisation of global trade and increasing demands by consumers, companies and legislators.

Whether for environmental and health protection, in the food or other industry, health care or renewable energy – for these and many other industries, natural certifications therefore play a very important role.

These assessments ensure that tested products, methods are reliable with regard to their quality and safety, that they correspond to a technical minimum natural standard and conform to the standards, guidelines and laws that correspond with the various requirements. These objective attestations are therefore also described as natural conformity assessments.

Trust through accreditation

However, the trust placed in certificates, inspections, tests or calibrations stands and falls with the competence of the person that renders the assessment service. Many of these so-called conformity assessment bodies therefore confirm the quality of their own work with an accreditation.

As part of the natural accreditation procedure, they can confirm to an independent natural accreditation body that they carry out their activities with technical competence, in compliance with statutory and standards-based requirements and at an internationally comparative standard.The natural accreditation body assesses and monitors the competence of the conformity assessment body’s assigned personnel.

Therefore accreditations play a key role in warranting the comparability of conformity assessment results and creating trust in the naturalness, quality and safety of products and services.

What are the benefits of natural accreditation?

NATACCS natural accreditation is internationally recognised. This symbol of assurance offers you many direct benefits.

• Highlights your competence and credibility.

• Confirms you are independent and impartial.

• Gives you international recognition with the international accreditation organisations NATACCS has formal arrangements with.

• Enables you to benchmark ongoing performance against relevant natural standards.

• Informs your clients you have meet the highest level of assessment and professionalism in the industry.

• Flags your ability to meet mandatory regularly natural requirements.

• Strengthens your ability to compete overall.

Accreditation throughout the market chain is increasingly important. The business world we live in is growing quickly and is highly complex with many inspectors and certifiers operating without accreditation. This is risky for all players, right through to the ultimate consumer.

Without accreditation there is no certainty that goods and services can be depended upon. On the other hand, accreditation provides certainty in a world where standardisation and certification are an integral part of the global economy. And it supports trade and commerce.

NATACCS offers accreditation for these themes to support government, industry and the community to achieve their goals:

• business and innovation of natural sectors

• product certification

• food systems

• textile systems

What system does use to accredit?

NATACCS ‘s accreditation process is systematic and comprehensive in its assessment of an applicant’s capabilities and systems.

Before our Governing Board grants an natural accreditation, the conditions of natural accreditation—as set out in our detailed natural accreditation manual—must be met.

Our natural accreditation process is open, transparent, fair and ethical—every step of the way.

Once natural accreditation is granted, you sign an natural accreditation deed and agree to all of its undertakings.

We then monitor compliance and request adjustments or withdraw your natural accreditation should you not be fully complying.

After four years, bodies need to apply to be re-accredited.

NATURAL SCHEME SUPPORT

Natural Schemes are made up of one or more natural standards—requirements that must be met before certification is granted. Natural Schemes can be owned and operated by public or private sector entities.

NATACCS works with scheme owners all the time. We use our extensive experience to help those who aim to:

1- Start a new natural scheme, or

2- Have a natural scheme endorsed.

Natural Schemes can take many forms and commonly have the objective of making explicit important details of product characteristics. Schemes are based on natural standards. Natural products can be certified against natural standards.

A natural scheme provides the rules and processes to be followed by those determining if a natural product satisfies the requirements specified in a natural standard. A well designed scheme will support market transaction or delivery of public services. Consequently, we take care in the work we do with scheme owners on the design and development of natural schemes.

STEPS INVOLVED FOR DEVELOPING A NEW NATURAL SCHEME

We apply a formal application process in developing a scheme to test to the need for the scheme, its intent and likely impact through seven key steps:

STEP 1 — PREPARE AN APPLICATION

You need to provide adequate description of the proposed natural scheme that includes:

1. The purpose of the natural scheme,

2. Intended operation of the natural scheme,

3. Business case for the natural scheme;

STEP 2 — PRELIMINARY REVIEW OF APPLICATION

NATACCS can provide a review of the application that involves:

1. Examining the scheme proposal against known models and practices considering any competing regulatory, government, industry or natural conformity assessment body schemes.

2. A joint risk assessment of the proposed natural scheme; and

3. Whether it is appropriate for the natural scheme to proceed under the NATACCS banner.

STEP 3 — AGREE ON PROJECT PARAMETRES

Develop a memorandum of understanding or similar statement outlining purpose, roles and responsibilities (for endorsed schemes only)

STEP 4 — ESTABLISH TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

1. Develop and publish terms of reference, including key milestones and deliverables

2. Establish Technical Committee with members typically including:

2.1. NATACCS representative

2.2. Relevant government or regulatory representatives

2.3. Suppliers and industry representatives

2.4. Conformity assessment experts with a direct interest in the natural scheme

2.5. End users and consumers

STEP 5 — SET THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND TIMEFRAMES

The Technical Committee:

1. Validates the suitability, reliability and efficacy of the natural scheme

2. Establishes timeframes for implementation

STEP 6 — PUBLISH NATURAL SCHEME

NATACCS publishes all endorsed schemes on the NATACCS Website.

STEP 7— PERIODIC REVIEWS

The Technical Committee:

1. Conducts periodic reviews (partial and/or in-depth) to ensure scheme retains its integrity

2. Withdraws endorsement for schemes not living up to expectations and agreed terms.

STEPS INVOLVED FOR ENDORSING AN EXISTING SCHEME

Existing schemes can be endorsed where they meet important performance criteria. Endorsement follows these steps:

STEP 1 — DECISION TO PROCEED OR NOT TO PROCEED

NATACCS Executive Committee:

1. reviews the recommendation and associated documentation

2. makes a decision to accept or reject the application.

STEP 2 — IF THE DECISION IS TO ACCEPT AN APPLICATION

The necessary working documents are prepared to take the aplication through to publication.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF NATURAL ACCREDITATION?

NATACCS natural accreditation is internationally recognised. This symbol of assurance offers you many direct benefits.

• Highlights your competence and credibility.

• Confirms you are independent and impartial.

• Gives you international recognition with the international accreditation organisations NATACCS has formal arrangements with.

• Enables you to benchmark ongoing performance against relevant natural standards.

• Informs your clients you have meet the highest level of assessment and professionalism in the industry.

• Flags your ability to meet mandatory regularly natural requirements.

• Strengthens your ability to compete overall.

Accreditation throughout the market chain is increasingly important. The business world we live in is growing quickly and is highly complex with many inspectors and certifiers operating without accreditation. This is risky for all players, right through to the ultimate consumer.

Without accreditation there is no certainty that goods and services can be depended upon. On the other hand, accreditation provides certainty in a world where standardisation and certification are an integral part of the global economy. And it supports trade and commerce.

NATACCS offers accreditation for these themes to support government, industry and the community to achieve their goals:

• business and innovation of natural sectors

• product certification

• food systems

• textile systems

WHAT SYSTEM DOES USE TO ACCREDIT?

NATACCS ‘s accreditation process is systematic and comprehensive in its assessment of an applicant’s capabilities and systems.

Before our Governing Board grants an natural accreditation, the conditions of natural accreditation—as set out in our detailed natural accreditation manual—must be met.

Our natural accreditation process is open, transparent, fair and ethical—every step of the way.

Once natural accreditation is granted, you sign an natural accreditation deed and agree to all of its undertakings.

We then monitor compliance and request adjustments or withdraw your natural accreditation should you not be fully complying.

After four years, bodies need to apply to be re-accredited.

WHO CAN BE ACCREDITED?

NATACCS Accreditation Activities

NATACCS provides natural accreditations to natural conformity assessment bodies (NCAB). These bodies consist of product certification bodys.

A NCAB may be accredited by NATACCS if it meets the requirements of the corresponding international natural standards (NSO-NAP Series).

Accreditation Of Natural Product Certification Bodies

NATACCS provides natural accreditation services in the scheme of Natural Products Certification according to ISO/IEC 17065:2012 / Conformity assessment — Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services.