elements of third-party certification
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Elements of Third-Party Certification. Presented to: The Greener Chemical Products and Processes Joint Committee (NSF/GCI 355). For Discussion Today. NSF International History and Mission NSF Certification Programs Accreditations Third-Party Certification Definitions General Process - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Elements of Third-Party Certification
Presented to:The Greener Chemical Products and Processes
Joint Committee (NSF/GCI 355)
For Discussion Today
NSF International– History and Mission
– NSF Certification Programs
– Accreditations
Third-Party Certification – Definitions
– General Process
– Key Benefits
NSF/GCI 355– Purpose and Scope
– Certification to NSF/GCI 355
NSF International
History
International public health and safety company
Independent, non-profit, founded in 1944
Standards developer for food, water and air safety
Product certification, testing, auditing, education and training
World Health Organization Collaborating Center
Mission“Protecting Public Health and Safety
Around the World”
Certified 250,000+ products around the globe Toxicological evaluation of 200,000+ chemicals Serve 12,000+ companies in 100 countries Worldwide offices and labs throughout Europe,
Asia, Latin America and North America
NSF Certification Programs
Food SafetyFarm, Processing, Seafood, Retail, Organic, Food Equipment, Bottled Water, Training and Education
Water Systems
Pharmaceutical
Sustainability
Management Systems
Drinking Water Additives, Plastics, Plumbing, Systems, Components
Product Certification, LEED, Carbon Foot Printing, Claims Verification, Greener Chemistry
Training, Consulting, Testing, GMP Audits, Dietary Supplements
ISO 9001 & 14001, RC14001, Greenhouse Gas
Pharmaceutical
NSF’s Center for Sustainable Product Standards
NSF Sustainability Standards for Building Products NSF/ANSI 140 - Commercial Carpets NSF 336 - Interior Furnishings Textiles NSF 332 - Resilient Flooring NSF 347 - Roofing Membranes NSF 342 - Wall Coverings BIFMA e3 - Business and Institutional
Furniture
NSF Accreditations
40+ International Accreditations to Demonstrate:– Best interests of Public Health and Safety are always served– Competency is upheld and verifiable– Independence from manufacturers – Compliance with established standards
Authoritative Accreditation Bodies:– American National Standards Institute (ANSI)– ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB)– Standards Council of Canada (SCC)– International Accreditation Service (IAS)
For Activities Including:– Consensus Standard Development – Product Certification (ISO Guide 65)– Laboratory Testing (ISO 17025)– Management Systems Registration (ISO 17021)
Consensus Standard Development
ANSI Accredited Standard Development Organizations (such as NSF)
Ensures due process - any person (individual, organization, company, etc.) with a direct and material interest has a right to participate by:– Expressing a position and its basis– Having that position considered– Having the right to appeal
Consensus Standard Development
Requirements of Due Process:– Openness
– Lack of Dominance
– Balance of interests
– Notification of standards activity
– Consideration of views and objections
– Evidence of consensus
– Appeals procedures
Accreditation Requirements
DefinedCertification
Processes
OngoingSurveillance
Personnel Qualification
ControlDecision on Certification
Organizational structure
Records and Confidentiality
Quality Systems
NSF
Third-Party Certification
Definitions
CERTIFICATION:Procedure by which a body indicates conformance of a product, process or service to a defined standard, in a publicly available list.
CERTIFICATION BODY:Body that conducts certification by operating its own testing and inspection activities or overseeing activities carried out on its behalf.
CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT:Activities performed to determine standard requirements are met. First Party:
Voluntary self-assessment performed by a company upon itself.
Second Party:Voluntary assessment performed by a party not under the direct control or within the organizational structure of the company.
Third Party:Voluntary assessment performed by an objective body independent of the parties involved; Synonymous with “Certification Body”.
Parties
Private
Public(Health Experts,Regulatory, End-Users, Industry)
1st
3rd
4th
2nd
- Self
Contract - between
Mfg and Auditor
- Certification Body
- Government
What is Certification?
To be “Certified” or “Listed” means that NSF has:
Verified the product or process. Determined at the time of the review that the product
or process complies with the relevant Standard. Conducted or will conduct (as set forth in the
Standard or Certification Policies) periodic surveillance to review whether the product or process continues to comply with the Standard.
General Certification Process Manufacturer Submits
Application
Manufacturer Provide Product /
Process Info
NSF ReviewsProduct / Process Info
Resolve Issues / Non-conformances
Verification Step(Inspection)
Certification and Listing
Continued Surveillance
Certification Benefits
Manufacturers (Suppliers)– Independent verification of product / process attributes – Encourage a shift towards more sustainable practices– Highlight cost savings and improvement opportunities– Strengthen market position– Public acceptance– Implied transparency– Reduce legal and regulatory exposure
End-Users / Regulatory (Customers)– Assurance that a product / process has been independently
verified – Aid in product / process evaluation, comparison and selection – Supply chain risk management
NSF/ GCI 355 Greener Chemical Products and
Processes
Purpose of NSF / GCI 355
Phase I: A voluntary American National Standard developed to:
Provide the chemical enterprise with a voluntary and standardized way to define and report on:– Primary categories of information– Their respective data elements, and– Data quality objectives.
Clearly, consistently and transparently communicate this information to customers.
Assist customers in evaluating the relative greenness of a chemical product and process over its life cycle.
Scope of NSF / GCI 355
Focus forPhase 1
Primary Categories NSF / GCI 355
Greener Chemical Characteristics– Safety (Flammability, etc.)– Health effects– Ecological impact
Greener Chemical Processes– Energy usage– Materials efficiency and waste prevention– Water usage– Safety (Process safety)
Social Responsibility– Corporate practices / governance
Certification to NSF / GCI 355
Certification Activities:– Data collection– Verification process – Data reporting– Evidence of conformance – Certification – Surveillance
Why Third-Party Certification?
Key Benefits: – Technical expertise – Ethical, competent personnel– Dedicated project management– Confidential data management and retention– Official Certification Listing (www.nsf.org)– Use of the Certification Mark
Example Report Summary
In Summary
NSF/GCI 355 is a voluntary consensus standard Third-party Certification benefits multiple key
stakeholders Third-party Certification encompasses:
1. Initial conformance assessment
2. Decision on Certification
3. Ongoing surveillance
Accreditation verifies a Certification Body’s objectivity, competency and compliance
Thank you.
Questions and Discussion….