CAB agrees to allow NAC to examine, and share with NAC, all of its documents and records (including client contracts, reports, records etc.) relating to the quality system and conformity assessment activities relevant to the scopes for which it has requested accreditation. Where the assessment team requests for the purposes of collecting objective evidence, it agrees to deliver the copies of such documentation to the assessment team.
CAB undertakes to upload the documents and records required in the application into the spaces allocated in the NAC website within the timeframe specified in the relevant NAC documents, and always keep the same up to date.
CAB undertakes to make available an adequate number of its staff during the assessment to guide the NAC assessment team.
CAB undertakes to provide the NAC assessment team with access to the units concerned with the scope of accreditation application and any other units associated with these activities.
CAB undertakes to agree with the assessment team and date as provided by NAC except where it provides a reasoned request for change to which NAC agrees.
CAB may not, save for a valid reason, request a postponement of the assessment dates agreed to in writing.
CAB shall notify, 15 days in advance, any intended changes to its legal status and address of operation. CAB agrees that, following such notification, NAC evaluates its status and takes a new decision on its accreditation. NAC suspends the accreditation in scopes that are identified as having been affected from the relocation following the change of address (for laboratories). CAB informs NAC in writing when it is ready for assessment following the suspension decision. NAC conducts the assessment as soon as possible, and removes suspension if there is no non-conformity that prevents the maintenance of accreditation.
CAB, whose accreditation has been partially or fully suspended for any reason, agrees that its accreditation shall be partially or fully withdrawn if the accreditation assessment and decision processes are not completed within the maximum suspension time specified in the relevant NAC documents.
CAB notifies NAC in writing within 15 days any changes in its shareholding and management and changes (quality management system, personnel equipment etc.) that affect activities covered by the accreditation. Following such notification, NAC shall evaluate the status of CAB and may decide, depending on the nature of the change, to make no changes to its accreditation status, or suspend or withdraw the accreditation partially or fully, or require on-site assessment.
CAB undertakes to submit the records of corrective actions taken for non-conformities identified by NAC within the time specified in the relevant NAC documents from the date of assessment. Where there are non- conformities identified by the assessment team that require on-site follow-up assessment, CAB agrees to an on-site follow-up assessment to observe the corrective actions on site.
In addition to the assessments, CAB undertakes to initiate corrective actions for communicated notices (complaints, correction, improvement etc.) after evaluated by NAC, and submit the records of such activities to NAC within the time specified in the relevant NAC documents.
CAB shall be under obligation to take measures during the assessment for occupational safety and health for the assessment team designated by NAC.
CAB agrees to conduct the conformity assessment activities required by the assessment team under the supervision of the NAC assessment team.
CAB agrees to include in the contracts with its clients such clauses that will allow NAC, where necessary and applicable, to perform on-site visits to review the services provided by CAB, and obtain necessary information on the assessment conducted by CAB.
NAC may conduct unscheduled assessment/visit on CAB and CAB’s clients. CAB agrees to accept such assessments and to collaborate with the assessment team formed for this purpose.
CAB shall not use the accreditation in such a way to damage the reputation of the accreditation agency.
CAB undertakes to follow up the standards and documents as relate to its field of activity, and implement the changes and requirements issued by NAC within the prescribed timeframe.
CAB undertakes to use the NAC accreditation mark and certificate after the accreditation decision is taken and within the scope.
CAB shall not use the NAC accreditation mark and certificate for any department, affiliates or subsidiaries not in the scope of the accreditation certificate, or for conformity assessment subjects and activities not in the scope of the certificate.
CAB shall use the accreditation certificate and scope together; it shall not reproduce partially.
CAB shall not transfer the use of the NAC accreditation mark and certificate to third parties.
CAB shall comply with the rules in the relevant NAC guidelines when using the NAC accreditation mark.
CAB agrees to share with NAC the results of reports drawn up by the regulatory agencies for proficiency tests and inter-laboratory comparison schemes participated by CAB.
CAB undertakes, where requested by NAC, to participate in the proficiency tests / inter-laboratory comparison schemes by APAC/IAF/ILAC or other schemes as designated by NAC.
CAB undertakes to submit to NAC the information and records requested by NAC within the time notified.
NAC may, in addition to routine assessments, initiate scheduled or unscheduled assessment on CAB upon notification (complaint, notices etc.) communicated to NAC or information/news obtained by NAC. CAB shall be under obligation to agree to such assessments. Where as a result of such assessment, the complaint or notification relating to the body is confirmed, the expenses for such assessment shall be charged to the said body. Where no non-conformity identified in the said body, the assessment quote shall not be charged to the assessed body.
CAB agrees that, where requested by NAC, CAB shall give NAC the information concerning certification applications, assessment schedule, assessment team, examination scheme, examiners, certification activities, testing/calibration applications, information related to testing/calibration activities, assessment reports, examination records, testing/calibration reports, charging basis, charges required for each job in relation to its conformity assessment activities.
CAB undertakes to keep confidential the NAC assessment reports and the information and documents relating to the assessment team that are provided by NAC and not open to the public, and not disclose such information and documents to third parties without NAC’s consent or otherwise than as required by law.
CAB’s Rights
CAB shall be entitled to publish the accreditation with an indication of accreditation scope and use the NAC accreditation mark for general correspondence in stationary and advertising materials and computer software for commercial purposes under the conditions specified in the relevant NAC documents.
CAB shall be entitled to appeal, by a letter accompanying objective evidence, to the assessment team and date proposed by NAC.
CAB shall be entitled to apply for all kinds of complaints and appeals relating to accreditation in accordance with NAC guides.
CAB shall be entitled to be informed of the assessment date for initial accreditation, surveillance and reaccreditation assessments at least one month prior to the scheduled assessment date. However, where there is a risk of stepping beyond the deadlines specified in the accreditation rules, and if CAB agrees to take the assessment on a notice shorter than one month, the assessment may be conducted on a shorter notice.
NAC’s Duties
NAC shall review CAB’s quality system and conformity assessment activities through documentation review and assessments in accordance with the relevant standards and documents; assess compliance therewith and report; and issue an Accreditation Certificate indicating the approved accreditation scope in its annex to CAB if the result is compliant.
NAC shall publish the name, address, accreditation date and scope of the accredited CAB in NAC’s official website.
NAC shall be under obligation to keep, and ensure that its assessors and technical experts keep, confidential all the information, papers and documents provided by CAB in line with confidentiality and security rules.
NAC shall designate assessors and technical experts for the assessment in such a way to avoid a conflict/relation of interest with CAB. It shall consider appeals from CAB to this effect.
NAC shall notify CAB of the assessment team and schedule no later than 15 days prior to the assessment in case of initial accreditation, surveillance and reaccreditation assessments. However, where CAB agrees, the assessment may be conducted on a notice shorter than 15 days.
NAC undertakes not to change the assessment dates except for a valid reason (health problem etc).
NAC shall not disclose to third parties nor reproduce the information, papers and documents relating to CAB without CAB’s consent except for requirements of the relevant multilateral recognition arrangements (MLA- MRA) and legal requirements. It shall ensure that such materials are only available to the relevant unit, assessors, technical experts, and the decision-makers.
NAC shall announce to CAB amendments to accreditation rules and the transitional plans for such changes in time through its website and/or electronic mail etc.
NAC’s Rights
NAC shall apply the relevant provisions of the relevant standards and documents on all matters relating to the accreditation.
NAC shall be entitled, where necessary and applicable, to conduct interviews and evaluation with the clients of accredited bodies concerning the services received by making unscheduled visits.
NAC shall be entitled to have the applicant complete the missing items in the accreditation application that fail to meet the requirements specified in the relevant NAC documents; close the application files where missing items are not completed within the allowed time; reject the applications that are not compliant or are not in the areas/scopes provided by NAC.
Where NAC determines, during the accreditation process of CAB (including document review, assessment, decision and post-decision process, surveillance, scope extension and reaccreditation assessments), that CAB fails partially or fully to fulfil the requirements of the standards and documents, NAC shall be entitled to refuse accreditation, suspend, grant accreditation with scope narrower than applied for or recommended as a result of assessment or with modified scope; decide where necessary to conduct supplementary assessment; adjust or amend the previously granted scopes with reasons communicated to CAB.
NAC may, without having to rely on an assessment, take a decision on CAB’s accreditation status based on objective data or evidence obtained; and shall notify the reasons thereof to CAB.
NAC may, in light of additional information and documents, take a decision diverging from the recommendation of the assessment team; where this occurs, it shall notify the reasons thereof to CAB.
NAC may, in the decision-making process, request complementary information and documents, and conduct additional assessment by giving the reasons.
NAC may involve representatives of APAC/ILAC/IAF and (with CAB’s confirmation) other appropriate parties to observe the assessment provided that their expenses be covered by NAC and CAB be notified in advance.
NAC shall be entitled to suspend or unilaterally terminate the accreditation, in cases of natural disaster, security problems etc.
NAC shall be entitled to stop the assessment whenever NAC concludes that the safety of assessment team is jeopardized during the assessment. CAB agrees that in such case, CAB shall pay all assessment charges and costs and the assessment shall be deemed to have never taken place.
NAC shall be entitled to suspend, stop its activities in a region, country, sector or accreditation area where circumstances occur which impair the confidence in that region, country, sector or accreditation area; and consequently suspend the existing accreditations or unilaterally terminate the agreements. Furthermore, on occasion of changes to international accreditation rules and policies or requirements arising from the sanctions of APAC, IAF, ILAC, NAC may, with an advance notice, suspend the accreditation or terminate the agreement.