Certification bodies

News on the Certification Sections

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Definitions :

Cofrac's "Certification" Sections are responsible for inspecting the bodies that issue certifications, verifications or qualifications:

Certification is an attestation provided by a third party regarding products, processes, systems or personnel, using audits, tests, examinations and any other surveillance activity. (Examples: ISO 9001, Organic Farming, Real Estate Diagnosticians, Low-Consumption Buildings, etc.). To find out more, click here.
Verification is a systematic, independent and documented process for the evaluation of a declaration in relation to approved criteria.
EMAS: accreditation of bodies verifying environmental statements pursuant to EC Regulation No 1221/2009.
GES: accreditation of bodies verifying statements on Greenhouse Gas emissions pursuant to the standard, ISO 14065, and the document, EA-6/03.
The qualification of companies is a conformity certificate issued by a third party on the aptitude of an organisation to demonstrate its ability to perform service provisions (examination of dossiers by a jury) pursuant to the standard, NF X 50-091.

Recognition

Cofrac's "Certification" Sections apply the requirements established by the standard, ISO/IEC 17011, and are recognised:

By EA and IAF within the framework of multilateral recognition agreements for the accreditation activities of certification and verification bodies;
By the French State, pursuant to Decree No 2008-1401 of 19/12/2008 (Article 2) and the competent authorities concerned, e.g. INAO for the certification of Signs of Identification of Quality and Origin.
By private instructing parties:
- French Aerospace Industries Association (GIFAS), for the accreditation of certification bodies in the aerospace field;
- Coop de France for the accreditation of bodies issuing certification according to the standard, NF V 01-005;
- PEFC France, PEFC Belgium and PAFC Gabon, for the accreditation of certification bodies according to PEFC standards (Pan European Forest Certification);
- EDF-GDF Services for the certification of fitters of underground wiring systems;
- Fédération des Entreprises du Commerce et de la Distribution (FCD) for IFS certification;
- British Retailer Consortium (BRC) for BRC certification;
- Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) for certification in the field of food safety;
- Food+ for GLOBAL GAP certification;
- Etc.

The various certifications accredited by Cofrac

Certification of products, services or processes

Definition: Certificate of conformity assessment for products, services or processes provided by a third party.
Examples: Label Rouge, NF marking, Organic Farming, BBC, IFS, etc.
Accreditation standard: NF EN 45011 (also called ISO/IEC 65 Guide).
Fields covered: click here
Bodies accredited: click here

Certification of personnel

Definition: Certificate of conformity assessment on the competence of personnel provided by a third party.
Examples: Real estate diagnosticians, management systems auditors, etc.
Accreditation standard: ISO/IEC 17024
Fields covered: click here
Bodies accredited: click here

Certification of management systems

Definition: Certificate of conformity assessment of management systems put in place by an organisation, provided by a third party.
Examples: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, EN 9100, ISO 22000, etc.
Accreditation standard: ISO/IEC 17021
Fields covered: click here
Bodies accredited: click here

CE marking is applied on completion of a successful conformity assessment procedure (inspection) on the essential requirements included in the Directives. Depending on the hazardousness of the products, the procedure varies from a simple self-assessment by the manufacturer to the verification per unit by a notified body or the implementation of a quality assurance system (standard ISO 9001), inspected by an accredited body.

For more information, consult this page and the list of products concerned using the NANDO database.