{"id":40682,"date":"2023-03-01T11:17:04","date_gmt":"2023-03-01T17:17:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/textileexchange.org\/?post_type=news&p=40682"},"modified":"2023-03-28T18:26:49","modified_gmt":"2023-03-28T23:26:49","slug":"extensive-standard-technical-services-ests-withdrawal-of-cb-accreditation","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/textileexchange.org\/news\/extensive-standard-technical-services-ests-withdrawal-of-cb-accreditation\/","title":{"rendered":"Extensive Standard Technical Services (ESTS): Withdrawal of CB Accreditation\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Textile Exchange\u2019s quality assurance program supports the credible and consistent certification of preferred fibers and materials according to the criteria in our suite of standards.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our assurance system auditing and certification processes support a network of certification bodies<\/a>. These certification bodies are required to conform to our policies and procedures to conduct audits and issue certificates to assess conformity with our standards. Certification bodies must maintain accreditation by conforming to these policies and procedures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All certification bodies undergo an assessment by an authorized accreditation body<\/a> for our standards before beginning any auditing and certification work. Accreditation bodies are independent organizations that, in accordance with ISO\/IEC 17011, assess certification bodies’ competency to perform certification activities with a given standard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At least once per year, the certification body is assessed to confirm their qualification and conformity with our requirements. This yearly assessment involves review at the certification body\u2019s headquarters with key staff as well as shadow audits of client sites where the assessor observes the auditor\u2019s performance. When non-conformities are identified, the certification body has a defined amount of time to correct them to maintain their accreditation status.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The process of withdrawal has a due diligence effort where the certification body may file an appeal to the accreditation body regarding their decision, giving further credibility in case there are procedural issues with the accreditation body\u2019s processes. Each accreditation body sets its own appeal timeline, which may result in several months passing before the final withdrawal decision and its consequences occur.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of the annual certification body assessment process in 2022, Extensive Standards Technical Services Co., Ltd (ESTS)<\/a> was found to have non-conformities with Textile Exchange\u2019s assurance requirements. These were not corrected within the required timeframes and as a result, their ability to provide certification services for Textile Exchange standards is affected.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

IOAS, ESTS\u2019s accreditation body, has withdrawn its accreditation to all Textile Exchange standards<\/a> effective February 3, 2023. ESTS\u2019s certified clients must now seek certification services from and transfer their certification services to another accredited certification body no later than May 17, 2023, to maintain certification<\/strong> as all scope certificates issued by ESTS will be considered invalid after that date.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transaction certificates previously issued by ESTS are still considered valid \u2013 unless otherwise notified by ESTS or Textile Exchange<\/strong>. ESTS is permitted to continue to issue transaction certificates for valid scope certificates until May 17, 2023. To authenticate a transaction certificate issued by ESTS, please see the Textile Exchange transaction certificate portal<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Withdrawal of the Certification Body Licensing<\/a> procedure details the requirements for certification bodies in such cases. We recognize the burden that this creates for the clients of this certification body since they may require another audit and be subject to its additional costs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are a certified client of ESTS, you should have received their notification already, but here are some next steps and resources to assist you with the process: <\/p>\n\n\n\n