Impartiality Policy

Impartiality is fundamental to the value and credibility of the certification and conformity assessment services Certiva Global provides. Top management understands the importance of impartiality in carrying out its activities and is committed to acting impartially in relation to all applicants, clients, and certified organisations.

Certiva Global conducts all certification and audit activities objectively, and manages any conflict of interest to ensure the objectivity of those activities. Decisions are based solely on objective evidence of conformity obtained through the audit process, and are not influenced by other interests or parties.

This policy applies to all Certiva Global personnel, including management, employees, contracted auditors, technical experts, committee members, and any other individuals acting on behalf of Certiva Global, across every certification, audit, inspection, and training activity we deliver.

Certiva Global has established a process to identify, analyse, evaluate, treat, monitor, and document, on an ongoing basis, the risks related to conflicts of interest arising from the provision of certification, including any conflicts arising from its relationships.

Relationships that may pose a threat to impartiality are assessed before any engagement is accepted, and are reviewed throughout the certification lifecycle. Where a risk to impartiality is identified, Certiva Global takes action to eliminate or minimise that risk, and declines the engagement where the risk cannot be adequately mitigated.

To protect its independence, Certiva Global observes the following principles:

• We do not provide or offer management system consultancy, internal audits to certified clients, or any other service that would compromise our impartiality.
• We do not certify a management system on which we have provided consultancy.
• Auditors are never assigned to a client where a conflict of interest may exist, including prior employment or consultancy within a defined cool-off period.
• Personnel are not subjected to commercial, financial, or other pressures that could influence audit findings or certification decisions.
• Remuneration of personnel involved in audits and certification decisions does not depend on the number or outcome of assessments.

Certiva Global is financed through the fees charged for its certification, audit, and training services. We manage our finances so that no single client or source of income can exert undue influence over our certification decisions or place our impartiality at risk.

Certiva Global maintains a mechanism for safeguarding impartiality that involves independent representation of the interests of relevant parties. This oversight function reviews the policies and principles relating to impartiality, monitors the certification body's activities for any tendency that would allow commercial or other considerations to prevent consistent, objective delivery of services, and advises on matters affecting confidence in certification.

All information obtained or created during the delivery of our services is treated as confidential and is managed in line with our confidentiality obligations, except where disclosure is required by law or authorised by the client. This protection extends to information about applicants and clients held at all levels of the organisation.

Any person who believes that the impartiality of Certiva Global has been, or may be, compromised is encouraged to raise the matter with us. All concerns are treated seriously, investigated, and handled through our feedback and appeals process.