Policy · ISO/IEC 17021-1 §8.3

Use of Certificates, Logos & Marks

The governing policy for how certified clients may refer to their certification and use the CAS certification mark — and why the EGAC and IAF MLA marks stay CAS-only — and what happens when marks are misused.

1. Purpose & scope

This policy governs how a certified client may make claims about its certification, and how it may use the CAS certification mark. It binds every certified client throughout the certification cycle, as part of the conditions of certification.

Two kinds of mark — only one is yours. The CAS certification mark is issued to you and is the mark you display (rules on the Certification Mark page). The EGAC accreditation symbol and the IAF MLA mark are CAS’s accreditation marks — only CAS may display them, on the certificates it issues and its own materials; clients must never use them (background on the Accreditation Mark Usage Guide).

2. Correct claims of certification§8.3.1

When you refer to your certification, you must:

  • conform to the requirements of CAS and the certification scheme when making reference to your certification in communication media such as the internet, brochures or advertising;
  • state the standard, the scope, and CAS as the certification body;
  • not make, or permit, any misleading statement about your certification; and
  • not use your certification in a way that brings CAS or the certification system into disrepute.

3. Accredited vs non-accreditedIAF MD 23

Some CAS certificates are accredited (issued under CAS’s EGAC accreditation) and some are non-accredited (“By CAS”). On an accredited certificate CAS shows the EGAC accreditation symbol — and the IAF MLA mark for the recognised scope — because CAS issued it; a non-accredited certificate carries the CAS mark only. Either way, in your own materials you display the CAS certification mark, not the EGAC or IAF marks. Clients holding both an accredited and a By-CAS certificate must keep the scopes clearly distinguishable so the accredited scope’s EGAC/IAF recognition is not misread as covering the non-accredited scope. The detailed rules are on the Certification Mark page.

4. Products & packaging§8.3.3

A management-system certification mark must not be displayed on a product, on product packaging seen by a consumer, or in any other way that may be interpreted as denoting product conformity. A management-system certificate certifies your processes and system — not the goods or services you provide.

5. On suspension, withdrawal or expiry§8.3.2 · §8.5

Your right to refer to your certification and to use the marks ends immediately on suspension, withdrawal or expiry of the certificate. You must then stop all reference to the certification and remove the marks from your website, materials and stationery. This obligation continues after the certification ends.

6. Misuse & enforcement§8.5.3

CAS exercises proper control of ownership and acts on incorrect references to certification, or misleading use of certificates, marks or audit reports. Action may include:

  • requesting correction;
  • suspension or withdrawal of certification;
  • publication of the transgression; and
  • legal action, if required.
Serious or repeated misuse of an accredited certificate is reported to the accreditation body. If you see what looks like misuse by another organisation, please report it via our complaints form.

Related

Certification Mark (the CAS mark)Accreditation Mark Usage GuideCertification RulesReport misuse
Compliance basis: ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 §8.3 (Reference to certification and use of marks) and §8.5 (Control of certification documents, marks and other mechanisms) · IAF MD 23 (accredited vs non-accredited). Accreditation-symbol rules follow IAF MD 5 and the accreditation body's requirements.

This policy is reviewed at least annually and at each change of the applicable standards or accreditation requirements.

Issued by CAS Conformity Assessment Services (LLC), 75 Saad Zalam Street, Nile Corniche, Old Cairo, Cairo, Egypt. Questions: info@cas.com.eg · +20 108 088 8574.
Use of Certificates, Logos & Marks · CAS