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Use of NCBJ’s Marks of Conformity Procedure

In accordance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17021, NCBJ possesses a duly registered Certification Mark by which holders of NCBJ's Certificate may make others aware of their Certification by means of various forms of publicity. Certificate Holders are allowed to use the NCBJ’s authorized marks of conformity upon permission from the NCBJ.

Holders of NCBJ’s Certificate of Conformity are made aware of the requirements and regulations governing the use of the Marks through the following documents:

  • NCBJ - Client Agreements

  • Use of NCBJ's Marks of Conformity Procedure

Upon achieving certification the client shall adhere to the guidelines/rules for proper use of the NCBJ Marks as stated in this procedure and the advertising code for NCBJ Marks of Conformity along with ANAB’s Accreditation guidance documents and Agreement for the Use of the IAF MLA member and an Accredited Conformity Body (CAB).

NCBJ auditors examine Certificate Holders' use of the NCBJ’s Marks of conformity as a routine part of surveillance audits. In addition, Certificate Holders' documented procedures shall include procedures for enforcing NCBJ's requirements and regulations for the proper use and protection of the NCBJ’s Marks of conformity.

Corrective Actions by NCBJ for improper use of the Marks

The NCBJ will implement corrective actions when its marks of conformity are misused in any way, in order to maintain high level of confidence in the validity of the Mark in the marketplace and, by extension, the reputation of NCBJ holders of its Certificates.

Certificate Holders shall receive one written warning to cease and desist, with a specific deadline. Should the misuse continue the NCBJ will refer the matter to the appropriate legal counsel for action.

Certificate Holders who violate NCBJ’s requirements with respect to use of these ‘Marks’ are instructed to implement effective corrective action(s) in writing, either via nonconformity reports, or through correspondence from the highest ranking official.

The NCBJ shall follow up on such corrective action requests and obtain written agreement from the Certificate Holder to:

  • Discontinue the improper use at once;

  • Notify any person or organization that may have been misled in any way, shape, or form of the misuse,

  • Notify them of the corrective action and the reasons therefore, copying the NCBJ’s Manager in writing.

The NCBJ may, follow up on these steps by scheduling a special surveillance of Certificate Holder's facility; inquiring of recipients of the Certificate Holder's corrective action letters, or other means that may be appropriate.

In any event, the incidence of misuse is followed up at subsequent surveillance visits of the Certificate Holder.

Escalation

Certificate Holders who refuse to discontinue improper use of NCBJ's Marks of conformity who persist in violation of NCBJ's requirements and regulations with respect to use of these Marks; who misuse the Marks repeatedly in different ways, and/or who fail to promptly and affirmatively implement corrective actions as instructed are subject to having their Certification / Certificates of Conformity suspended or withdrawn. See procedure for Suspension, Withdrawal, or Reduction of the scope of certification.

The NCBJ will forward all instances as outlined above to the NCBJ Appeals Committee. The Committee will take appropriate action, documenting it in full.

Use of Logos

When using the Accreditation Body and NCBJs Marks of conformity, it’s important to keep in mind that all logos have rules associated with their use. These rules help ensure that the integrity of the logos is maintained. The rules specify the size and color for the logos, and restrict where the logos may be placed. Please contact us for appropriate logos and necessary logo files.

In addition, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has put together some rules for the appropriate way to publish your certification. These rules were created to ensure that the public would not be misled or confused about specific certifications. Please contact us for the latest version of these rules.