Enquiry and Application forms are publicly available documents which can either be download from www.acbcb.org or collect from ACBCB office. Fill forms along with required information and all the supporting documents should be submitted to ACBCB. The first stage of the accreditation process is for the CAB to complete and return their application, including relevant documentation requested within the application form, along with payment. Application fees are non- refundable. Applicants will be acknowledged further information/clarifications will be requested if necessary.

Application and supporting documents submitted by the Applicant body or CAB will be reviewed in order to verify compliance in accordance with the relevant Standard by a competent Lead Assessor appointed by ACBCB. Applicant body or CAB shall take necessary corrective actions on the deficiencies indicated in the report within specified time period.

Pre-assessment is conducted by Lead assessor /Assessment team in order to verify whether documented procedures are in place. ACBCB selects an assessment team who undertake an on-site assessment at the applicant's offices. The assessment team also witnesses the applicant's team undertaking assessment activity at their client's premises. At the completion of the assessments the assessment team writes a report of their findings along with recommendations. A detailed feedback report will be issued.

It is the final audit for the grant of accreditation. A team consisting of ACBCB assessor and/ technical experts will conduct the initial assessment. If accreditation is not approved, the applicant is advised of the reasons for the decision. A further application may be considered at a later date. Once an applicant is accredited regular visits are made to the CAB's offices to assess the CAB's ongoing compliance with the accreditation criteria. ACBCB also selects a sample of CAB auditors and inspectors for witnessing activities. A complete reassessment takes place every three years.

The Applicant body/CAB shall submit objective evidence for corrective actions taken. This is applicable to all stages where corrective actions are involved.

The assessment team will make a recommendation to Accreditation Approval Committee regarding Grant of accreditation.

If the Accreditation Approval Committee is satisfied with the recommendations of the assessment team, the applicant body/CAB will be granted accreditation with the approval.

EFA is fully aware of the constraints and pressures that an organization can be subjected to. We understand that any formal system and controls adopted must be flexible and responsive to the growth and development of a business.

In the firm belief that the audit and certification process should be conducted in a spirit of partnership and openness with the client, EFA has established a set of guiding principles, which will be applied throughout the relationship:

• We listen to our clients and respect their views and opinions.

• We are professional in our actions at all times, whilst remaining flexible and fair in our approach.

• We never promise something we cannot deliver.

• We respect and maintain client confidentiality at all times.

We work in partnership with our clients, to promote the concept of continuous improvement in all aspects of their business.

EFA ’ principles for inspiring confidence include

• Impartiality

• Competence

• Responsibility

• Openness

• Confidentiality

• Responsiveness to complaints

It is a necessary objective of EFA to be completely impartial, in order to remain Accredited and to deliver certification services which provide the market place with confidence, while maintaining the professionalism and credibility of the audit and certification process. EFA therefore ensure that impartiality is upheld as an integral part of the Audit process. As EFA is a self-financed independent organization, this also ensures that we retain our impartiality.

EFA ’ reputation for excellence is maintained by an independent Impartiality Committee, who have been appointed by the directors to monitor all aspects of our business activity. The EFA Impartiality Committee all have many years’ of direct experience in the individual sectors which they represent; thus enabling them to guarantee a wealth of knowledge and integrity for EFA .

EFA shall not accept applications for certification of organizations who report directly to a person or group who also have any type of operational responsibility for EFA

EFA ’ Offices shall not enter into any partnerships to provide consultancy. However, EFA may provide auditor training when contracted by another body to do so, but such contractual agreement may not be advertised in any manner without prior review and approval of the EFA Accredited Office.

The following seven controls shall be implemented and complied with by all audit and certification staff to ensure that this Impartiality Policy is maintained throughout the audit process.

1. Auditors/Technical Experts are prohibited from participating in the Audit of any organization where they have provided consultancy or training (except where this has been professionally registered auditor training), or of any organization where they have any financial or commercial interest, for a minimum period of two years prior to the date of the organization’s Certification Application.

2. Auditors/Technical Experts shall not disclose or discuss any detail, before or after an Audit, to any member of staff other than their direct Management or other members of the team, as required by their Secrecy and Non-Disclosure agreement signed on commencement of employment.

3. Subcontracted Auditors/Technical Experts shall sign a Subcontractor Agreement and a Secrecy and Non-Disclosure Agreement and shall be included on the Office Potential Conflict Listing.

4. EFA ’ directly employed Management and Staff are prohibited from engaging in consultancy activities, which involve the active design, generation or implementation of a Management System.

5. EFA ’ directly employed Management and Staff are required to declare any financial interests or business activities on commencement of, and during, the period of employment. The details of which shall be recorded on the Office Potential Conflict Listing.

6. EFA ’ Management, Staff and Subcontracted Auditors/Technical Experts shall neither suggest nor imply that certification would be simpler, easier or less expensive if specific consultancy or training services were used. EFA ’ Management, Staff and Subcontracted Auditors/Technical Experts shall not offer consultancy or training services to EFA ’ clients to whom they have been assigned an audit; either during or after the audit has been completed.

7. Certification of organizations supplying a service to EFA is not deemed to be an unacceptable threat to conflict of interest. However, certification of a company with whom in partnership EFA provides a direct service is deemed to be an unacceptable threat to impartiality. If such a situation develops, an alternative Accredited Certification Body shall be sourced to allow the continuation of the existing Certification.