We have sent out email updates to our certified organizations on March 15, 2020 and March 19, 2020 regarding approved guidance and direction.
The alleviations cover approval to perform audits remotely using Information and Communication Technology (ICT). There are clear guidelines that must be followed by ASACB
using ICT to complete on-site and/or remote audits. ASACB will review and determine approval to perform audits using ICT on an individual basis.
A certified organization that is unable to hold or complete its audit as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic prior to its certification expiration has the following options:
- Option 1 – ASACB can extend certification up to six months after the current date of expiry. ASACB must complete the required audit within this extended timeframe, close all related non-conformances, complete the technical review and certification decision process. The delayed audit may be performed 100% on-site in or as a partial on-site/remote audit or remotely 100%. Once the technical review process and certification decision has been completed a new three-year certificate will be issued that is based from the expiration cycle of the existing certification. All audits going forward will be scheduled within the original audit and planning cycle.
- Option 2 – If the audit due is the first surveillance after the initial certification it must be performed within 12 months after the certification decision was granted. The approved alleviation is to extend the due date from 12 months after certification decision to 18 months.
- Option 3 – if the audit is a second surveillance or first surveillance in cycle 2 or beyond it may be delayed, however it must be completed by the end of 2020. Option 2 and 3 must be completed within the timeframes defined or ASACB must begin its suspension process.
- If Option 1 applies and the organizations certification expires due to the audit was not completed and closed and/or the technical review/certification decision was not finalized and approved as a result of this delay an alleviation for the reinstatement of certification is available. ASACB may reinstate the certification by performing an initial certification audit minus a stage 1 audit. The on-site time must be calculated based on recertification requirements. This audit must be completed within six-months after the initial six-month extension ended. i.e. Current certification expires on 5/1/2020 initial six-month extension ends on 10/31/2020. The additional six-month extension would end on April 30, 2021.
These alleviations are pertinent to existing certified organizations only. The use of ICT and remoting auditing is temporary for the management of audits impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. ASACB will determine with each certified organization’s supplied input the ability to perform audits on-site and will take appropriate actions necessary per the following documents:
You may access the documents with links listed above. The following documents IEC ISO 17021-1 and AS9104-1 are copyrighted and ASACB may not grant access to these documents.
