Today counterfeit certificates are making rounds in the open making all of us confused. Even ISO certificates have not been excused. It has become really difficult to differentiate the authentic ones from the fakes.
If you are someone who has ISO certification or is looking to get one, its necessary to find out it’s authenticity.
But how to know if your certificate is real or fake? Let’s see a few ways.
Ways to Certify Your Certificate Authenticity from ISO Certification Company
Here are a few ways you can verify if the ISO certification is authentic or not:
Look at the Certificate
The first thing you need to do when you ask for the certificate is if and when they provide you a copy of that certificate. Now, the next few checks.
Who Issued the Certificate?
Only registrars can issue the certificates. You cannot get it from an organisation alone. It needs the registrar’s name on it. If you want to know the quickest way to find out if the certificate is genuine or not, call the Registrar’s office. Ask them directly to confirm if they have issued such a certificate.
Look for the Accreditations
Companies receive certificates from various accreditation bodies like
- ANAB (ANSI National Accreditation Board),
- ANSI (American National Standards Institute),
- UKAS (The United Kingdom Accreditation Service) and
- NABCB (National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies).
If you see no stamps from these bodies then you can have suspicion.
Check the Expiration Date
You can enquire about the reason for the expiration of the ISO certification company. There could be two reasons:
- Their Recertification Audit Happened: They renewed their certificate but the Registrar failed to present the Audit report on time. This made it impossible for them to answer the nonconformities on time.
If that is the case, then you can get a copy of the recertification audit report. It might not always be the fault of the organisation.
- Organisation Was Not Ready for the Recertification Audit: Due to a lack of preparation, they decided to postpone it. If that is the case, then you can expect an audit agenda. It will have the new audit date.
Now that you know how to verify through the issuing body, let’s delve into the physical characteristics of a genuine ISO certificate to help you spot inconsistencies.
Hallmarks of Authentic ISO Certificate
You’d know the real ISO certificate from the fake one if you pay close attention to a few things:
- Has a Unique Identification Number: Every certificate has a unique certification that only ISO certification bodies issue.
- Address Details: It has the address details to authenticate the certificate.
- Logo: The logo of the accreditation of the body is one of the most important to identify the authenticity of it.
- IAF Mark: The certificate qualifies for Multilateral Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MLA) of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF).
- Organisation Details: The name and address of the company should be present.
- Detailed Information about the Scope: The ISO certification company must issue a certificate that has proper information and details the scope of the actions under it. For instance, if you have a dairy food company, the certificate must mention the production and sale of dairy products.
- Follow All Standard Guidelines: The certificate adheres to all the rules and regulations, for instance, ISO 90001 or FSSC 22000.
Conclusion
Spotting counterfeit ISO certification is crucial in today’s market. Ensure your ISO certification is genuine by checking for accreditation from bodies like ANAB or UKAS. Explore more at E-StartupIndia for ISO certificate registration details.
Moreover, If you want any other guidance relating to the ISO Certification in India. Please feel free to talk to our business advisors at 8881-069-069.
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