Document Library
CAS policies, certification procedures, and governance documents — maintained in accordance with ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 and IAF mandatory requirements.
Quality & Impartiality Policy
CAS policy statement per ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 §4.2 & §4.3
CAS Policy: CAS Conformity Assessment Services is committed to conducting all certification activities with the highest standards of quality, impartiality, and integrity. CAS decisions are based solely on objective audit evidence and are not influenced by commercial, financial, or any other pressure.
Per ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 §4.2 (Impartiality), CAS maintains and continually improves the following commitments:
- Certification decisions are based solely on objective evidence of conformity or nonconformity obtained during the audit — not influenced by any other interests or parties (§4.2.3).
- CAS identifies, analyses, and documents all threats to impartiality and implements controls to eliminate or minimise them (§4.2.4).
- CAS does not offer or provide management system consultancy services to certified clients (§5.2.5).
- CAS evaluates its finances and income sources to ensure commercial pressures do not compromise impartiality (§5.3.2).
- An Impartiality Committee of independent persons oversees the safeguarding of impartiality.
- Personnel involved in auditing a client are not involved in the certification decision for that client.
- CAS does not subcontract certification decisions — all decisions are made by CAS personnel not on the audit team.
- Consistency: All certification activities are performed consistently and systematically per documented procedures, ensuring equivalent treatment across all clients and sectors.
- Competence: Auditors are selected based on demonstrated competence, qualifications, and sector knowledge per IAF MD 5:2023 and ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 §7.
- Confidentiality: All information obtained during certification is treated as confidential per §4.6.
- Openness: CAS makes publicly available its certification policies, appeal/complaint processes, and list of certified organisations through CertSearch.
- Responsiveness: CAS investigates all complaints with acknowledgement within 5 business days and progress reports throughout (§4.7).
- Continual Improvement: CAS monitors effectiveness through internal audits, management reviews, and analysis of complaints, appeals, and surveillance data.
Management System Certification Process
Per ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 §9 — from application to certificate and beyond
- Year 1 Surveillance: Within 12 months of initial certification. Covers internal audits, management review, complaints handling, continual improvement, and key processes.
- Year 2 Surveillance: Within 24 months. Covers remaining elements. Together with Year 1, the full standard scope is covered.
- Recertification (Year 3): Full recertification audit confirming continued conformity and effectiveness. Certificate renewed for another 3-year cycle.
- Short-notice audits: CAS may conduct unannounced audits to investigate complaints, follow up on suspension, or respond to significant changes (§9.6.4.2).
- Suspension and withdrawal: Certification suspended if the management system fails to meet requirements, or if the client fails to allow surveillance (§9.6.5).
Complaints & Appeals Handling Process
ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 §9.7 (Appeals) & §9.8 (Complaints)
CAS Commitment (§9.7.2): CAS is responsible for all decisions at all levels of the appeals-handling process. Persons engaged in appeals handling are different from those who carried out the audits. Submission shall not result in any discriminatory actions against the appellant.
- Receipt (§9.7.1): Any person may submit an appeal against any CAS certification decision. CAS acknowledges receipt in writing.
- Validation (§9.7.5): CAS gathers and verifies all necessary information to validate the appeal.
- Investigation (§9.7.4): Process includes outlining receipt/validation/investigation, tracking and recording appeals, and ensuring corrections are taken.
- Independence (§9.7.7): Decision communicated to the appellant is made by individuals not previously involved in the subject of the appeal.
- Formal Notice (§9.7.8): CAS gives formal written notice of the end of the appeals-handling process.
CAS Commitment (§9.8.1–9.8.2): CAS is responsible for all decisions at all levels. Submission shall not result in discriminatory actions. All submissions treated with strict confidentiality per §9.8.5.
- Receipt (§9.8.8): CAS acknowledges every complaint within 5 business days and provides progress reports and final result.
- Scope confirmation (§9.8.3): CAS confirms whether complaint relates to activities it is responsible for, and if so, deals with it.
- Referral (§9.8.4): Valid complaints about a certified client are also referred to that client at an appropriate time.
- Confidentiality (§9.8.5): The process is subject to requirements for confidentiality relating to the complainant and to the subject of the complaint.
- Independence (§9.8.9): Decision communicated to the complainant is made by individuals not previously involved in the subject of the complaint.
- Formal Notice (§9.8.10): CAS gives formal notice of the end of the complaints-handling process.
- Public disclosure (§9.8.11): CAS determines, together with the certified client and the complainant, whether the subject and resolution shall be made public.
Rules & Regulations for Use of Certification Mark
CAS-POL-003 · ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 §8.4 & §9.1.3 · Effective immediately
The CAS Certification Mark is a circular mark containing a shield device, the CAS wordmark, the certified management system standard, and a unique client certificate ID. Each mark is issued exclusively to the certified organisation it identifies and is non-transferable.
The mark contains five mandatory elements:
- Outer ring text: "CAS CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT SERVICES · CERTIFIED" — always present, always full
- CAS shield device: The CAS geometric shield — must never be altered
- CAS wordmark: "CAS" in Helvetica Neue Bold, letter-spaced — must never be altered
- Standard name: The certified standard and edition (e.g. "ISO 9001:2015") — specific to each certificate
- Client ID: The unique certificate identifier (e.g. "CAS-9001-EG-0001") — specific to each organisation
Important — EGAC & IAF Logos: The EGAC accreditation mark and the IAF MLA mark appear on CAS certificates and CAS-issued documents ONLY. Certified organisations (clients) may NOT reproduce, use, or display the EGAC mark or IAF MLA mark in any form. These marks are accreditation body logos belonging to EGAC and IAF respectively, and their use is restricted exclusively to CAS as the accredited certification body. Only the CAS Certification Mark (as shown above) is licensed to certified organisations.
Official Colour Palette:
The CAS Certification Mark must be reproduced at a size that ensures all elements — especially the standard name, client ID, and ring text — remain clearly legible to the naked eye.
- Digital minimum: 60px × 60px. Below this size, the ring text becomes unreadable — do not use the mark smaller than this.
- Digital recommended: 100px–200px for website use. 200px+ for headers and featured placements.
- Print minimum: 18mm diameter (approximately 51pt). Below this, the ring text is illegible in print.
- Print recommended: 25mm–40mm for most print documents. 50mm+ for certificates, banners, and signage.
- Aspect ratio: The mark must always be reproduced at its full proportions (approximately 1:1.1 width:height). Never stretch, compress, or distort the mark.
- Resolution: For print, use the vector SVG or PDF version at 300dpi minimum. Do not upscale rasterised versions.
- Clear space: Maintain a minimum clear space equal to 15% of the mark diameter on all sides. No other text, logos, or graphics may appear within this space.
Organisations holding a current, valid CAS certificate are licensed to use the specific CAS Certification Mark issued for their certificate. The mark may be used only for the standard(s) and client ID stated on the certificate.
Letterheads, business cards, email signatures, company envelopes — the mark may appear alongside your company name and contact details.
The mark may appear on your company website, in a location that clearly relates to corporate information about your certification status (e.g. About Us, Quality, Certifications page). It must link to your CAS CertSearch result at cas.com.eg/certsearch/.
Company brochures, capability statements, presentations, trade show materials, and similar corporate marketing documents.
Prequalification forms, bid submissions, and supplier registration documents where you are required to demonstrate management system certification.
The mark may be displayed on company vehicle livery and at certified premises in signage that relates to the certified organisation's operations — not on vehicles/premises outside the certified scope.
Announcing your certification achievement to media or stakeholders, provided the announcement accurately describes the standard and scope certified.
Zero Tolerance: Any misuse of the CAS Certification Mark, EGAC mark, or IAF mark will result in immediate suspension of certification, demand to cease misuse, and notification to EGAC. Fraudulent use will be reported to relevant authorities.
Never use after expiry or suspension. The mark must be removed immediately from all materials upon suspension, withdrawal, or expiry of the certificate — including websites, social media, and physical signage.
Never use outside certified scope. If your certificate covers "manufacture of widgets", you may not use the mark in connection with a different line of business or service not covered by the scope.
Never place on products or product packaging. The mark certifies your management system, not your products. Placing it on a product or product label implies product certification, which is false and misleading (ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 §8.4.2).
Never alter or modify the mark. Do not change colours, proportions, fonts, elements, or add/remove any component of the mark. Use only the exact mark as provided by CAS for your certificate.
Never use a different client ID than your own. Each mark is issued with a specific client certificate ID. You may not use another organisation's certification mark or modify the client ID on the mark.
Never use the EGAC or IAF logos. The EGAC accreditation mark and IAF MLA mark are for use by CAS only — as the accredited certification body. Clients may not reproduce or display EGAC or IAF logos in any form whatsoever.
Never imply product certification or personal certification. The mark signifies management system certification of the specified organisation within the defined scope only — not product approval, personal qualification, or regulatory compliance.
Never transfer the mark to another organisation. The certification mark is issued exclusively to the named certified organisation and may not be sub-licensed, shared, or transferred to subsidiaries, parent companies, partners, or any third party.
Never use the wrong standard name on the mark. The standard name shown on the mark must exactly match the standard(s) on your certificate. Do not modify the edition year or standard reference.
Never use on documents implying accreditation of the organisation. The mark indicates CAS's certification of your management system. You may not state or imply that your organisation itself is "accredited" — only CAS as a CB is accredited.
- Receiving the mark file: Upon certificate issuance, CAS provides the certified organisation with a digital copy of their specific certification mark (SVG and PNG formats) via secure email to the nominated contact. The mark includes the correct standard name and client certificate ID.
- Certificate transfer: If you are transferring an existing accredited certificate to CAS from another certification body, per IAF MD 2:2023, CAS will issue a new certificate with a new CAS certificate number and provide a new CAS certification mark. The previous CB's mark must be removed from all materials immediately upon CAS certificate issuance.
- Lost or corrupt mark file: Contact info@cas.com.eg to request a replacement copy of your certification mark file. CAS will re-issue the original file within 2 business days.
- Mark update on recertification: When a new edition of the standard is published (e.g. ISO 14001:2026), CAS will issue an updated mark file upon completion of the transition audit. Both old and new mark versions may be used until the old certificate expires.
- Mark update on scope change: If your certification scope is expanded or reduced, CAS will issue a revised certificate and updated mark file reflecting the new scope. The previous mark must be replaced within 30 days.