GUIDELINES ON THE USE OF THE DUTCH ACCREDITATION COUNCIL (RvA) ACCREDITATION MARKS AND LOGO BY TRANS CERTIFICATION & INSPECTION SDN. BHD. CERTIFICATION MARK FOR GREEN GOLD LABEL (GGL) SCHEME

  1. This document describes the rules for the use of RvA accreditation marks and the RvA logo by TRANS Certification & Inspection Sdn Bhd (TRANS).
  2. RvA accreditation marks and logo is meant only for organization that have written permission from the Board of the RvA. The term accreditation marks mean the logo by which the conformity assessment body (TRANS) indicate their accredited activity.
  3. The application of RvA accreditation and RvA logo is only limited to the RvA accredited activity, herein referring to GGL Certification Scheme activity that has been carried out by TRANS

GENERAL RULES FOR THE USE OF THE MARKS

  1. On each page of a document on which the accreditation mark is used, also the mark, logo or name of the accredited CAB shall be used.
  2. The accreditation mark shall not be used in combination with the mark, logo and/or name of another CAB.
  3. The rules in this regulation also apply to the use of the accreditation mark on digital expressions (for example on web sites and other digital media).
  4. The RvA is entitled to verify the use of the accreditation mark at any time. The TRANS shall lend its assistance to such verifications.
  5. TRANS shall mention the registration number of the relevant accreditation and the identification of the accredited activity when referring to the accredited status without using an accreditation mark.
  6. TRANS responsible in informing RvA of any misuse or abuse of the accreditation mark or RvA logo that it encounters.
  7. The use of the accreditation mark, under the conditions given in this regulation, on items not mentioned is permitted with prior written permission from the Board of the RvA.
  8. If TRANS is suspended for the full scope of accreditation (for suspension see policy rule RvA-BR002), the body shall immediately cease the use of the accreditation mark.
  9. If TRANS is suspended for part of the scope of accreditation, TRANS shall immediately cease to mark results of activities for which the accreditation is suspended as being accredited and immediately cease to offer these activities under accreditation. In this case also the principle applies which means that if a document only contains results of activities which are suspended then no accreditation mark shall be used on the document.
  10. Upon termination of accreditation, TRANS shall immediately:
    • stop making any claim that it is accredited and
    • stop distributing any document bearing the accreditation symbol or a text reference to accreditation.
  11. TRANS shall also take appropriate steps to terminate the use of the accreditation mark by certified clients, within a period of time to be determined by the RvA (see also policy rule RvA-BR002) as soon as possible
  12. In cases referred to termination and suspension, TRANS shall inform its clients about the (partial) suspension or withdrawal as soon as possible.

RULES FOR REPORTS, CERTIFICATE AND DECLARATIONS

  1. Where in this chapter reports, certificates or declarations are mentioned, the media (physical or digital) with which or in which the TRANS presents the results of the conformity assessment activities, are meant.
  2. The accreditation mark may not be used on reports, certificates or declarations that do not contain results of activities which are covered by the TRANS’ scope of accreditation.
  3. the document (report, certificate, declaration) is issued after granting accreditation based on a review and/or decision conducted after the granting of accreditation.
  4. Documents with regard to activities conducted before the date of granting accreditation, that are not witnessed by the RvA as mentioned under sub a, can only be issued with an accreditation mark, under the conditions proposed by the accredited body and with a written permission of the Board of the RvA, These conditions will at least include the repeated conducting of the activity and will state that the document will only be issued under accreditation after the repeated conducting of the activity.

RULES FOR OTHER DOCUMENTS AND PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

  1. TRANS may use the accreditation mark or another reference to the accreditation status on promotional material if the material refers to accredited activities. Any possible misrepresentation shall be prevented
  2. TRANS with accreditations from the RvA for multiple standards may use the accreditation marks combined on promotional material or choose to use the combined RvA mark as described in Annex 1.
  3. TRANS with the prior explicit written consent of the Board of the RvA, use the accreditation mark on cars, provided that they are used for accredited activities herein GGL certification activities. Here too the accreditation mark may only be used in combination with the logo or the name TRANS, but the accreditation mark may never be larger or more prominent than the TRANS logo.
  4. TRANS may use the accreditation mark on letters. In this case the accreditation mark may not appear more prominently than its own logo or the statement of the TRANS’ name.
  5. Quotations, offer letters, etc., that do not just relate to accredited activities may be provided with the accreditation mark, provided that it is clear from these documents which services have and which have not been accredited. The same applies to the documents sent with these documents. Reference to the scope of accreditation as published on the RvA website is permitted for this purpose.
  6. If documents such as quotations, offers, proposals or accompanying letters with reports, certificates and declarations only concern activities outside the accredited scope, the accreditation mark may not be used on them.
  7. The use of the accreditation mark in e-mails and other digital communication is bound by the rules in this regulation.

USERS OF ACCREDITED SERVICE

  1. The clients of accredited certification bodies for management systems, products, processes or services may use the accreditation mark under the conditions given in this chapter. It is the responsibility of the accredited certification body to ensure the correct use of the accreditation marks by these clients. In case the accredited certification body cannot demonstrate to take appropriate measures for situations of misuse by its client or its former clients, this may have consequences for TRANS as explained in the policy rule RvA-BR002.
  2. TRANS in which accredited for product certification may authorise a certified client to apply the accreditation mark, in combination with the certification mark, to the product or to the packaging of the product if these products have been certified within the scope of accreditation.
  3. TRANS in which accredited certification body may authorise certified clients to use the accreditation mark in combination with the certification mark on letters and on other documents relating to products from these producers that have been certified under RvA accreditation.
  4. Excluded is the use of the accreditation mark:
    • on business cards of the certified client’s personnel.
  5. If the certified client uses the accreditation mark it shall be used immediately next to, above or below the certification mark and shall not in any case be shown more prominently than the certification mark. In no way the suggestion shall be created that the certified organization has been accredited by the RvA.

MISUSE OF THE REFERENCE TO ACCREDITATION

  1. The use of an accreditation mark or in other way suggest to be accredited by the RvA by bodies not having valid accreditation from the RvA, with the exception of the provisions laid down in above guidelines, will be regarded as misuse. The incorrect or misleading suggestion of an RvA accreditation by bodies with a valid accreditation, or by organisations as referred to the above guideline, will also be regarded as misuse. This latter form of misuse will also count against the accredited body and may lead to action against it.
  2. In the event of misuse the RvA will take the necessary steps to stop the misuse and to hold the responsible party accountable for the consequences.

RvA ACCREDITATION MARKS AND RvA LOGO

  1. The RvA logo is listed in the Benelux Marks Register under number 1009112. The colour scheme of the logo is specified below.
  2. The text used within the accreditation mark under the logo is printed in blue (PMS 296) or black. The whole accreditation mark may also be shown in black or in one colour of the body’s house style. Details of the layout of an accreditation mark are given below. The ratio of the height of the logo to the height of the two lines of text shall be approximately 3:2.
  3. The maximum height with which the whole accreditation mark may be used on documents is 45 mm. Used directly beside, above or below the logo of the accredited CAB the accreditation mark may be shown larger, but never larger or more prominent than the logo of the accredited organization. When deciding on the size of accreditation mark to use, the body must take account of the legibility and of the mark, the accredited activity it covers and the integrated registration number.

  1. The accreditation mark for EN ISO/IEC 17065 accredited certification bodies for the certification of products. The Dutch text to be used for “PRODUCTS” is “PRODUCTEN” with below logo as references

ANNEX 1 – TRANS CERTIFICATION MARK WITH  RAAD VOOR (RvA) ACCREDITATION MARK APPLICATION