Designing a robust integrity programme to detect, prevent and respond to fraud and misuse of your certification, scheme rules, certificate or logo

Investigating certified companies suspected of non-compliance with scheme requirements, standards or regulatory obligations

Setting up effective market surveillance, supply chain monitoring and product testing to protect the credibility of your scheme

Handling complaints, disputes and appeals from certified companies, consumers and other stakeholders in a transparent and consistent way

Deciding on sanctions, suspensions and withdrawals of certificates to maintain trust in your certification scheme

Protecting your scheme's claims, brand and trademark from misuse, misrepresentation and false or misleading advertising

Approving new certification bodies to operate and deliver your certification scheme

Monitoring and evaluating the ongoing performance of the certification bodies you work with

Carrying out independent witness assessments of auditors in the field to verify competence

Calibrating and aligning auditors so they apply your standard consistently across all audits

Managing and resolving issues with any certification body that underperforms or breaches your rules

Reviewing audit reports and certification decisions for accuracy, consistency, and overall quality

Preparing certification schemes for IAF MD 25 evaluation, including documentation review and readiness checks

Getting schemes ready for 

benchmarking by aligning requirements, evidence and governance structures

Applying for 

Compliant status and strengthening scheme credibility and stakeholder confidence

effectively

 to non-conformities raised by an accreditation body and implementing corrective actions

Closing gaps identified in a benchmark assessment before resubmission to improve the chance of approval

Running a mock assessment before the real one to test compliance, identify risks and refine processes

Preparing certification bodies for ISO 17065 or ISO 17021-1 accreditation, from system design to audit preparation

Keeping schemes aligned when a benchmark or IAF document is revised, ensuring ongoing compliance and recognition

Setting up or reviewing an impartiality committee to strengthen transparent and credible decision-making

Identifying and managing conflicts of interest in certification decisions to protect the integrity of the scheme

Reviewing governance structures, committees and decision-making processes for effective oversight and accountability

Drafting or revising bylaws, terms of reference and governance policies to align with best practice and regulatory expectations

Clarifying the roles and responsibilities of the board, secretariat and technical committees to avoid overlaps and gaps

Preparing the board for strategic decisions on the scheme's future direction, growth and long-term sustainability

Providing an interim Secretary-General or executive director during leadership transitions to ensure continuity

Engaging stakeholders who feel left out of the scheme's decisions to build trust, participation and legitimacy

Developing a new certification scheme or industry standard from the ground up

Reviewing and revising existing standards, including managing a structured public consultation process

Drafting scheme rules, a comprehensive assurance manual and detailed auditor requirements

Defining auditor qualification pathways, training programmes and competence criteria

Establishing recognition or equivalence arrangements with other schemes and certification programmes

Evaluating whether to use certification, verification or self-assessment and designing the most effective assurance model