Certification Process
Application
The certification of a product for the use in the food sector is a separate order assigned to our expert, Dr. Derra. Within the framework of our accreditation, the certification order has to be placed in written form according to our application for certification form. The order has to clearly define the scope of the certification and the separation of analysis order and the certification has to be pointed out explicitly.
Certification agreements
With his signature on the application for certification, the client pledges to uphold the terms agreed upon and to observe the certification conditions. This forms the prerequisite for beginning the certification process.
Product designation
The applicant has to put down in writing how the product is formulated, in which form the product is intended to be used or which defined requirements it is to comply with. Based on this information, the examination scope encompassing the necessary parameters will be planned.
Confidentiality
ISEGA undertakes to keep all knowledge gained during the processing of an order secret, to protect it against third parties and not disclose it without prior approval of the client. Exempted from this are supervising authorities within the framework of accreditations/notifications as well as public authorities.
For our testing and certification process, information from the suppliers of the clients are required.
Evaluation of the application
The certification body evaluates the information received by the client to ensure that said information on the client and the product are sufficient to carry out the certification process.
Certification programs
There are specifically designed certification programs targeted towards the individual material types, intended applications as well as test requirements which take into consideration the current legal provisions, regulations and recommendations. The scope applied for is reflected in the examination scope. The interpretation of the legal provisions and the compliance with the respective standards by the certification body forms the basis for this process. If the certification should have to be denied, the client is given the opportunity to rework the product.
Certification
The certification body evaluates products on the basis of food legislation or a range of standards which are reflected in the certification programs
- 21 CFR Ch. 1, parts 170 to 199 Food and Drug Administration (FDA), current version
- Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004, Article 3 (Framework Regulation), published in the Official Journal of the European Union L338/4 of 13.11.2004, current version
- Lebensmittel- und Futtermittelgesetzbuch (LFGB) of 01.09.2005 (BGBl. I S. 2618, 3007) current version §§ 5, 24 and 25
And conformity evaluation on the following points:
- Resolutions of the Council of Europe referring to food contact
- EU Directives and Regulations based on the Regulations (EC) No 178/2002 and 1935/2004
- German Reglations based on the listed §§ of the laws mentioned above
- Plastics Recommendations of the Bundesinstituts für Risikobewertung (BfR), p.ex. Recommendation XXXVI
The client may also apply for or agree to certifications issued in the name of distributors. Other derivative usage is prohibited.
The accreditation according to DIN EN ISO/IEC 17065:2013 requires a monitoring of certificates. This is why they are issued with a validity of 2 years. A prolongation is possible provided that an application is submitted in good time. For such a prolongation, the product has to be evaluated after the client's order according to our files and the current certification requirements. Should partial analyses be necessary, the client has to be informed accordingly.
The certification scope can be modified if additional corresponding analysis results are available, however, the validity of the certification will not be extended thereby. Should the certification requirements have changed in the meantime, for example due to revisions in the legal foundations which possibly also affect the basis of the ongoing certification, the client has to be informed accordingly and the certificate has to be modified or withdrawn.
Rules related to the handling of the certification
The use of the certification encompasses
- Remarks in written, pictorial or oral form on the fact of the certification,
- Use of original certificates, copies or other representations of the certificates,
- Use of the certification signet with the ISEGA logo.
The rules of use are as follows:
- During use, only the actual basis of the certification and wording of the certificate will be referenced.
- The certificate owner will not use the certification in a form likely to oppose ISEGA’s goals or discredit ISEGA.
- The certificate owner will not make any statements on the certification which ISEGA may regard as not authorised.
- In cases when the certificate owner is unclear about particularities of the present rules on the use of the certification, the certificate owners commit themselves to contact the certification body as a precaution to seek agreement for the intended form of use.
- All usage rights of the certification (including certificates and signets) shall lapse upon expiration of the validity of the certificate of compliance or a premature declaration of invalidity (e.g. for reasons of suspension or withdrawal of the certification).
- After withdrawal or expiration of the validity of the certification, it must not be used for promotional purposes and a misleading impression of an ongoing certification is not permitted.
- Upon request, the certificate owner can be granted the use of the certification signet with the certificate number for promotional purposes.
- The certification, a certificate of compliance or the certification signet must not be conferred by ISEGA onto third parties or legal successors without permission neither can it be the object of an assignment agreement, disposal or other forced legal measure.
The use of the certificate by presentation of the original documents, copies or other visual representation is admissible. It has to be ensured that all certificate components are legible or, in case of a scaled-down, not completely legible presentation, the non-legible parts are explained separately in their entirety.
When handing over the certificate, the owner is not obliged to enclose accompanying documents. That has to be clarified with the respective business partner. The certification body is not obliged to hand over enclosures to third parties.
Certificates which are in possession by the certificate owner remain property of ISEGA and, unless they have duly expired after the set validity date, have to be returned to ISEGA after a declaration of withdrawal or the destruction of the documents has to be confirmed in writing.
Restriction of Certification
If a non-compliance with the certification requirements is found, there is the possibility that the product could be certified for only a certain part of the scope requested. The client is given the possibility to rework the product or to remove non-compliant product variants.
Withdrawal of the Certification
If information or circumstances become known to the certification body which result in the statements in a certificate of compliance being invalid, the client has to be informed immediately. As required, the suspension or, in case of an active breach of the certification terms, the withdrawal of the certification has to be considered.
Policy for handling complaints and objections
In this point, ISEGA describes the handling of the general complaints procedure. Complaints can be submitted to ISEGA by clients as well as by all other interested parties. Complaints can refer to certification decisions as well as to individual evaluation activities.
