IAF CertSearch Release - March 26, 2024

Release Highlights

• Release of Version 2.0 of the Certification Body Templates

• Updates on Technical Sectors Library

• Accreditation Status at the Technical Sector level

• Accreditation Status in Country/Economy

• Update Office Directories to Key Locations

The Technical Sector library is being updated and the sector mapping feature is being implemented to conform with the IAF MD and to support consistency and analytics. Some of your technical sectors may not be accessible whilst this update is being implemented. Any questions please contact [e-mail]

Certification Body Template Updates

Release of Version 2.0 of the Certification Body Template includes:

• The "Office Directories" tab has been updated to "Key Locations".

• The following fields have been added as per the requirements of the IAF MD 28 :

Field Names	Optional/Required	Description
Generic Email Address	Optional	A generic email is preferred, if personal email the AB must have consent to pass it on for the purpose of IAF CertSearch.
Generic Phone Number	Optional	Certification Body Phone number. Include any country and area codes.
Generic Fax Number	Optional	Certification Body Fax number.

• A unique ID field is added at a Standards and Schemes level.

Field Names	Optional/Required	Description
Key Location ID	Required	ID to link Standards and Schemes to a Key Location

• Technical Sectors can be added at the accredited standard level and the status can be edited at the technical sector level also.

Field Names	Optional / Required	Description
Accredited Standard	Required	Standard which the sector is accredited with.
Scheme/Program	Required	Specific scheme or program or framework to which the technical sector relates.
Suspended/Withdrawn Date	Optional	Date on which the technical sector was officially suspended or withdrawn.
Full/Limited	Optional	Refers to the extent of scope of whether it is full or limited at a sector level.
Extent of Scope	Optional	Refers to the Scope Description at a Sector Level.

• Certification Body Countries can now be accredited in standard allowing to set the scope of accreditation, fields added are Accredited Standard, Scheme/Program, and Suspended/Withdrawn Date.

Field Names	Optional / Required	Description
Accredited Standard	Required	Specific Standard in which the country is accredited.
Scheme/Program	Required	Specific scheme or program or framework to which the Country/Economy relates.
Suspended/Withdrawn Date	Optional	Refers to the Date when the Economy Status was suspended or withdrawn.

What Changed?

Accreditation Body Account

To be properly guided by the new updates, you may refer to this link.

New Data Template

Utilize the list of accreditations available in the IAF database by selecting data in the dropdown fields when adding Standards, Schemes, and Technical Sectors.

Centralized IAF Standards and Sectors Database

Utilize the list of the standard, scheme, and sector libraries available in the IAF database by selecting data in the dropdown fields when adding Standards, Schemes, and Technical Sectors.

• To add sectors to your account, go to Standards and Schemes > navigate Technical Sectors > + Add Technical Sectors > select from the list of Technical Sectors > Submit.

• To add standards and schemes to your account, go to the Standards and Schemes > + Add Standards and Schemes > select your preferred Standard and Scheme, including the accreditation dates > Submit.

New Navigation: Import Settings

Simplify your import configuration management through the Import Settings navigation, with accumulated modifications such as FTP connection, API key generation, Field/Data mappings, Auto import Settings, and the new setting Template Versioning. To access your configuration, go to Import Settings. Introducing a new configuration, Template Versioning allows you to update your current Certification Body data structure to version 2.0. To update your version, go to Import Settings > Template Versioning > hit the Update Now button. The new template will support the following:

• Standard and scheme level assigning of sectors and economies.

• Linking of a key location to a standard and scheme.

Certification Body Generic Information

As per the MD ABs can voluntarily add Generic contact information. Fill out your contact details by adding a new Certification Body, or by editing your existing Certification Body.

• To edit a certification body, go to Certification Bodies > select Certification Body > Edit > fill out the fields > Save Changes.

• To add a certification body, go to Certification Bodies > + Certification Body > fill out the fields > Submit

Accreditation Information

Part of these enhancements is assigning industry sectors to standards and schemes. The changes also include listing the key locations and the economies where the organisation can issue accredited certifications.

• To assign a Standard and Scheme to a Certification Body, go to Certification Bodies > select Certification Body > navigate Standards and Schemes tab > + Assign Standards and Schemes > fill out the accreditation information > Submit.

The Certification Body has an overall summary listing of sectors, key locations, and economies with their respective tabs. The overall listing of these scopes can be viewed through the following:

• To view sectors, go to Certification Bodies > select Certification Body > navigate Technical Sectors tab.

• To view key locations, go to Certification Bodies > select Certification Body > navigate Key Locations tab.

• To add key locations, go to Certification Bodies > select Certification Body > navigate Key Locations tab > + Add Key Locations > fill out the key locations information > Submit.

• To view economies, go to Certification Bodies > select Certification Body > navigate Country / Economy tab.

Standard and Scheme Configuration

A detail page dedicated to a standard and scheme is implemented, listing the sectors it covers, authorized key locations, and economies. To check out the new Standards and Schemes pages, go to Certification Bodies > select Certification Body > navigate Standards and Schemes tab > select Standard and Scheme.

To support the dynamic and distinct management of your data aside from listings, configurations such as assigning, editing, and deleting are now on the standard and scheme level. To test out the following modifications under Standard and Scheme:

The Technical Sector library is being updated and the sector mapping feature is being implemented to conform with the IAF MD and to support consistency and analytics. Some of your technical sectors may not be accessible whilst this update is being implemented. Any questions please contact [e-mail]

Technical Sectors:

The Technical Sector library is being updated and the sector mapping feature is being implemented to conform with the IAF MD and to support consistency and analytics. Some of your technical sectors may not be accessible whilst this update is being implemented. Any questions please contact [e-mail]

• To assign a sector, go to a Standard and Scheme > navigate to Technical Sectors tab > + Assign Technical Sectors > fill out the sectors information > Submit.

• To edit a sector, go to a Standard and Scheme > navigate to Technical Sectors tab > select Edit under the menu button of a sector > edit sector information > Save Changes.

• To remove a sector, go to a Standard and Scheme > navigate to Technical Sectors tab > select Remove under the menu button of a sector > Confirm.

• To remove all sectors, go to a Standard and Scheme > navigate to Technical Sectors tab > Remove All Technical Sectors > Confirm.

Key Locations:

• To assign a key location, go to a Standard and Scheme > navigate to Key Locations tab > + Assign Technical Sectors > fill out the key location information > Submit.

• To edit a key location, go to a Standard and Scheme > navigate to Key Locations tab > Edit > edit key location information > Save Changes.

• To remove a key location, go to Standard and Scheme > navigate to Key Locations tab > select Remove under the menu button of a key location > Confirm.

• To remove All key locations, go to Standard and Scheme > navigate to Key Locations tab > Remove All Key Locations > Confirm.

Country/Economy:

• To assign an economy, go to a Standard and Scheme > navigate to Country/Economy tab > + Assign Country/Economy > fill out the economy information > Submit.

• To edit an economy, go to a Standard and Scheme > navigate to Country/Economy tab > select Edit under the menu button of a sector > edit economy information > Save Changes.

• To remove an economy, go to a Standard and Scheme > navigate to Country/Economy tab > select Remove under the menu button of an economy > Confirm.

• To remove All economies, go to a Standard and Scheme > navigate to Country/Economy tab > Remove All Country / Economy > Confirm.

CB Account:

Improved Certification Body data

With the new release of the Certification Body Data Structure 2.0, enhanced accreditation monitoring is implemented providing a distinct view of the scope of a standard and scheme, available for certification. These include the Certification Body's public contact information, sectors, key locations, and economies of accreditation.

To check out the changes, reference through the following:

Public Contact Information:

Action	Instruction
View	Go to Certification Body Profile
Edit	Go to Certification Body Profile > Edit > fill out the fields > Save Changes.

Standards and Schemes:

Action	Instruction
View standards listing	Go to Standards and Schemes.

Technical Sectors:

Action	Instruction
View sectors listing	Go to Standards and Schemes > navigate to Technical Sectors.
View standards assigned in a sector	Go to Standards and Schemes > navigate to Technical Sectors > view a sector.

Key Locations:

Action	Instruction
View key locations listing	Go to Standards and Schemes > navigate to Key Locations.
View linked standards in a key location	Go to Standards and Schemes > navigate to Key Locations > view a key location.

Country / Economy:

Action	Instruction
View economies listing	Go to Standards and Schemes > navigate to Country / Economy.
View standards assigned in an economy.	Go to Standards and Schemes > navigate to Country / Economy > view an economy.

If you have any questions or need assistance please contact [e-mail].

To know more, click the documentation below:

Certification Body