Validating the quality (QMS), environmental, health, and safety management system (EHSMS) certificates is critical. As R2v3 certificates are being issued globally, it is becoming a challenge to assess the validity of EHSMS and/or QMS certificate(s) issued by CBs other than one issuing the R2v3 certificate. The validation process is a requirement of 8.3.3 of the COP, which requires a certificate to be accredited by an IAF MLA Signatory AB. Without valid certificates for QMS and/or EHSMS, the R2 Certificate is not valid!

To help auditors navigate the certificate validation process, SERI has issued a Certification Validation Guidance Document. This step-by-step process will help auditors conduct this task quickly, by first checking International Accreditation Forum’s (IAF) website, then moving on to the associated AB and CB websites.

• STEPS TO VALIDATING QMS / EMS / SMS