Certification Rules

In order to obtain and retain certification all applicants and clients must abide by the Certification Agreement and ICCV’s terms and conditions.

The client shall ensure that the responsibility for the certification application is clearly defined by appointing an authorised representative who will be the main contact with ICCV.

All information deemed necessary by ICCV to complete the assessment should be made available to ICCV.

On receipt, all applications are checked for eligibility and completeness.

On agreeing to the fee quotation for the required services, the Certification Agreement will be finalised and the Client will then be advised of the proposed audit date and the requirements for the Halal certification audit.

AUDIT PROCESS

All initial certification audits are carried out in at least two stages. The first stage consists of a preliminary review of the client’s organisation and Management System. Part of the first stage of the audit will be conducted at the client premises to provide the necessary understanding of the management system’s structure and development in relation to the nature and complexity of the organisation’s operations.

During a site visit, ICCV will commence the visit by conducting an Entry Meeting, which will involve key Client Management.

The objectives of the audit will include the following:

• Confirm that the Client’s management system and procedures has been designed to conform with ICCV’s Halal certification requirements and the requirements of the applicable importing country, if any;
• Confirm that the Client has effectively implemented its management system and procedures, including performance and quality assurance monitoring and measuring against stated objectives, identification and compliance to applicable regulatory requirements, operational controls of processes, internal audits and management review.
• Evaluate the Halal integrity of the certified product/s taking into account ingredients used, contamination, food safety, procurement practices, production practices and related matters.
• Obtain pertinent information to provide for subsequent audit effectiveness and planning. This will include an evaluation of the client’s location and site specific conditions, a collection of information related to the processes and operations within the scope of the management system, and an identification of key performance or significant aspects and objectives.
• Conclude on the overall level of implementation of the Client’s management system and procedures, especially as the relates to the Halal integrity of its products;
• Provide feedback to the organisation to facilitate continual improvement.

When the audit has been completed, ICCV will inform the Client of the results at the Exit Meeting. This will include details of all the Major Non-Conformances, Minor Non-Conformances and Improvement Requests identified during the audit. Once all Non-Conformances have been fulfilled, the audit results will be submitted for final review and approval.

SURVEILLANCE, SHORT NOTICE AND SURPRISE AUDITS

A Surveillance Audit is the ongoing periodic review of an organisation’s management system and procedures.

Surveillance visit frequency will be stipulated to clients but it will be at least once a year during the period that the certificate remains current.  Surprise visits may be conducted at the discretion of ICCV.

It may also be necessary for ICCV to conduct audits of certificated clients at short notice to investigate complaints, or in response to changes, or as a follow-up on suspended clients.

COMPETENCE CRITERIA OF PERSONNEL

ICCV will ensure that personnel conducting the audit are competent and have the necessary skills to discharge their responsibilities.

EVIDENCE COLLECTION AND LABORATORY TESTING

ICCV may also collect/request relevant samples, photographs or other materials for the purpose of investigation.

Laboratory testing may also be used to identify if any cross-contamination exists, and to confirm that any other agents/ingredients used are Halal.

ISSUE OF Halal CERTIFICATE

Once the results of the audit has been reviewed, and confirmation has been obtained that Non-Conformances, if any, have been addressed, a Halal Certificate will be awarded by ICCV and the authority granted to use ICCV’s Halal marks on certified products. ICCV will inform the applicant upon approval of its application.

This Certificate shall be valid for the certification period as stated on the certificate, and requires compliance by the client to meet continuing Halal certification requirements as well as the outcome of surveillance audits and/or surprise visits.

The certificate will remain the property of ICCV and shall always be returned upon request.

EXTENDING CERTIFICATION

Any client wishing to extend the scope of its certification to cover additional products, processes, services or sites shall apply to ICCV in writing by completing an application form and identifying the audit type or change required. ICCV shall review the nature of extension and decide on the necessary audits/evaluations to be performed.

PUBLICATION BY CERTIFICATE HOLDERS

A client has the right to publish that the certified product/s are Halal Certified, and apply ICCV’s Halal mark to the successfully approved Halal product/s to which the certificate applies.

The client shall not make any claim that may be regarded as misleading, and care must be exercised in its publications and advertising so that no confusion arises regarding product certification, especially where certified and non-certified business scopes and product exist.

PUBLICATION BY ICCV

Non-confidential details of a client’s Halal certified products will be published in, or accessible via ICCV’s website.

SUSPENSION/ TERMINATION OF CERTIFICATION

A Halal certificate may be suspended or terminated due to the following actions by a certified client:

• Improper/Misleading use of the ICCV Halal certificate or mark.
• Client makes a voluntary formal request to withdraw certification.
• Client ceases trading, or if the certified product is no longer offered.

• Regular surveillance or recertification audit shows non-conformance(s) that compromises or may compromise the Halal integrity of a certified product.
• Major non-conformance(s) or effective corrective action not implemented within a specified time period.
• Contravention of the Certification Requirements
• Client fails to meet financial obligations to ICCV.
• Infringement by the client of any contractual conditions between the client and ICCV.
• Client is unable or unwilling to ensure conformance to revisions of Halal certification requirements once advised by ICCV.
• Existence of a serious complaint, or a large number of second- or third-party complaints, which indicate that ICCV’s Halal certification requirements are not being maintained.
• Client does not allow audit access as required by ICCV, or where the client is the cause of a delay in the audit taking place.

During any suspension or once certification has been terminated, the client shall not identify it’s product, process or service as certified by ICCV.

ICCV may make the certificate suspension or termination public through it’s website.

All costs incurred by ICCV, in the suspension and reinstatement of Halal certificates will be charged to the client.

RIGHT OF APPEAL

The client has the right to appeal against any notification given regarding the suspension, reduction in scope or termination of certification by ICCV.

Notification of an client’s intention to appeal must be made in writing and must be received by ICCV within fourteen days of receipt of notification of failure to comply with the certification requirements.

The Appeal committee will convene and review the decision taken and the appellant will be informed of the outcome.

ICCV shall take reasonable precautions to control the use of its Halal certificates and marks by clients.

ICCV will take action and deal with incorrect references to certification status or misleading use of certification documents, marks or audit reports by certified clients. The action may include requests for correction and corrective action, suspension, withdrawal of certification, publication of the transgression and if necessary legal action.

When ICCV receives a report of certificate misuse the report shall be investigated. If misuse is substantiated, the cost of the investigation shall be paid by the client.

ICCV will determine the scope of misuse and the type of corrective action to be undertaken by the client.

FEES AND CHARGES

ICCV shall be entitled to charge fees at a level to be determined from time to time having regard to its operating costs relating to the services, administration and long term development of the services.

Commercial arrangements are detailed in agreements and other correspondence between ICCV and the clients.

ICCV is also entitled to full re-imbursement of all out-of-pocket expenses and government charge incurred in the provision of Halal certification services.

ALTERATIONS/ CHANGES NOTICE  

It is the certified client’s responsibility to inform ICCV in writing of any changes that may affect the capability of the management system and procedures to continue to fulfil the requirements for Halal certification. The client should inform ICCV without delay of any changes relating to:

• the legal, commercial, organisational status or ownership,
• organisation and management (e.g. key managerial, decision-making or  technical staff),
• modifications to the product, product ingredients or the production method,
• changes to contact address and production sites,
• major changes to management system and procedures.

ICCV reserves the right to make changes and corrections to its Halal certification requirements without prior notification. This includes changes imposed by Halal authorities of importing countries. ICCV will endeavour to provide clients with prior notice of any changes that may affect their duties and responsibilities.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

Certificated clients may provide comments and recommendations relating to the potential areas for improvement of services provided by ICCV.

COMPLAINTS

Complaints regarding ICCV’s service delivery should be made in writing and may be addressed to the General Manager.   Complaints will be logged and evaluated to establish its validity, with any requisite corrective and preventive action instigated where necessary.

Complaints received by ICCV from any interested party regarding the activities of a certificated client shall be referred to that client. The complaint shall be investigated by the client with a response provided to ICCV regarding the validity or otherwise of the compliant, and further actions if any, to be taken by the client.  ICCV shall determine, together with the client and complainant, whether and, if so to what extent, the subject of the complaint and its resolution shall be made.

1. General

This document outlines the rights of users of ICCV Halal Certificate and ICCV Halal Mark/Logo.

2. Proprietor of Halal Certificate, Mark or Logo

ICCV is the proprietor of all ICCV Halal Certificates and ICCV Halal Mark/Logo. It regulates the proper use of Halal certificate and Halal Mark/Logo.

3. User of Halal Certificate, Mark or Logo

User of the Halal Certificate, Mark or Logo are the companies or organisations that ICCV have audited and given approval to the relevant standard by way of current Certificate of Registration and correspond to the ICCV Scheme.

4. Use of Marks

On receipt of a valid certificate issued by ICCV, the certificate holder acquires a non-exclusive and non-transferable right of use of ICCV’s mark/logo within a restricted time and place as stated on the certificate. To ensure that the correct markings are used the following rules shall be observed by all companies who receive Halal certification through ICCV:

1. The marks shall be displayed only in the appropriate form, size and colour detailed in this document.

2. The entitlement to the use of mark./logo is limited to the information stated on the certificate (i.e scope, range of products and services, location, validity etc). The entitlement to use the mark is only granted for the validity period of the certificate.

3. When the mark is printed on an unfolded portion of A4 size stationery, it shall be displayed in a size no larger than 30 mm high. On larger portions of unfolded stationery the size may be proportionately increased.

4. Accreditation marks shall normally have a minimum height (excluding the certificate number) of 20 mm. Any enlargement or reduction shall retain the same proportions as those of the masters. The accreditation mark and the certificate number shall be considered as a single entity for purposes of enlargement or reduction.

5. Embossed, relief, or die-stamped versions may be used. The marks may be reproduced as water marks.

6. In exceptional circumstances, which are usually dictated by reason of space limitation or cost, the marks may be reproduced at a reduced height, provided that irrespective of the height of reproduction, the mark must be legible, with no infilling.

7. Electronic reproduction of the marks is permitted (including Internet web sites) provided that the requirements are met and

• the organisation’s certificate number is printed under the mark

• the mark is reproduced so that infilling does not occur

• degradation and/or distortion of the mark graphic is avoided

• computer files of the marks shall be prepared from mark masters. Redrawn approximations may not be used.

8. Reversed-image versions of the accreditation marks are available, and artwork masters are available on request. The organisations’ certificate number shall be printed centrally underneath the accreditation mark. All other conditions for use of accreditation marks apply to these versions.

9. ICCV Mark/Logo shall not be used or modified improperly without the written approval by ICCV. The use of any details of ICCV mark/logo by a certificate holder shall also require ICCV’s prior written consent. A proof of artwork on packaging shall also be forwarded to ICCV for formal approval.

10. Accreditation marks / logo shall not be used in any way that might mislead the reader about the status of a certified organisation, activities outside the scope and imply that product, process or service is certified. Holders of Certificate shall not make, use or permit any misleading statement and certification document.

11. Holders of certificates issued by ICCV may use the appropriate mark in the manner prescribed, on stationery and publicity material or other items relevant to their certificate.

12. Holders of certificates should not use its certification in such a manner that would bring the certification body and / or system into disrepute and lose public trust.

13. Holders of certificates should not photocopy ICCV certificate for any other use or for other premises.

14. The term ‘publicity material’ shall not include notices, labels, documents or written announcements affixed to or otherwise appearing on goods or products, unless the goods or products have been manufactured under an accredited product conformity scheme. This restriction shall also apply to primary (e.g. blister packs) packaging, promotional products and test certificates / certificate of analysis.

15. Upon termination (by client request), suspension or withdrawal of its certification, the use of ICCV shield or logo shall be discontinued from all advertising matter, stationery etc. that contains a reference to certification. The use of logo on all stationery / advertising material shall be amended if the scope of certification is reduced.

16. Upon reduction in scope, advertising material shall be amended.

OTHER RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF THE MARKS

1. The certification marks shall not be displayed on vehicles, except in publicity material containing an accreditation mark as part of a larger advertisement, provided the mark is used in the publicity material in accordance with the conditions detailed elsewhere in this information sheet.

2. The certification marks shall not be displayed on buildings and flags.

3. Certification marks may be displayed on internal walls and doors, and on exhibition stands.

4. Certification marks shall not be used in such a way as to suggest that ICCV approved, any product or any service supplied by a licensee of a mark, or in any other misleading manner.

5. Certification marks shall not be used in such a way as to imply that ICCV accepts responsibility for activities carried out under the scope of certification.

6. All quotations for work that contain a certification mark shall clearly indicate those activities that are not ICCV certified.

7. Any use of a certification mark that might contravene the conditions laid down in this document shall be referred to ICCV.

8. Certification bodies shall ensure that they audit the use of Halal certificates and Halal marks/logos by their certificate holders. Conditions for the use of the marks by such certificate holders are given in these rules.

9. Reproduction of the marks shall be based on master versions supplied at the time of certification, to which certificate holders must add their certificate number.

10. Do not use its certification in such a manner that would bring the certification into disrepute and lose public trust.

ICCV will take action and deal with incorrect references to certification status or misleading use of certification documents, marks or audit reports. The action may include requests for correction and corrective action, suspension, withdrawal of certification, publication of the transgression and if necessary legal action.

5. ICCV Mark/ Logo

The conditions for granting and use of the ICCV mark/logo are regulated in the Certification Agreement of which this document is a part of.

The validity of certification mark is subject to periodical monitoring measures within the validity period of the certificate.