1. Request for Quotation: The client contacts GTICS to request pricing for certification services.
2. Application: The sales admin or technical and planning admin sends the relevant application form questionnaire to the client to complete.
3. Administrative Review: The sales admin or technical and planning admin checks the completed application for completeness and may engage the client to clarify details or obtain additional information.
4. Quotation: The sales admin or technical and planning admin prepares the quotation and submits it to the Certification Manager for approval.
5. Application Review: The Certification Manager reviews the quotation and confirms all requirements and criteria have been met, then issues approval back to the sales admin or technical and planning admin.
6. Acceptance of Quotation: The sales admin or technical and planning admin sends the approved quotation to the client. The client signs or accepts and returns the quotation to GTICS.
7. Create Client Account: The sales admin or technical and planning admin requests the necessary account details or payment.
8. Audit Agreement: The technical and planning admin confirms proposed audit dates with the client and the assigned Audit Team.

1. Opening Meeting: At the start of Day 1, the Audit Team Leader or lead auditor conducts an opening meeting with the client’s top Management and relevant representatives. The client signs the opening meeting attendance register.
2. Audit: The audit is performed over the agreed period in line with the approved audit plan, including interviews, sampling, site verification (where applicable), and review of documented information.
3. Closing Meeting: At the end of the audit, the audit team Leader and auditor holds a closing Meeting with Top Management. The client signs the closing meeting minutes.
4. Audit Pack: The auditor compiles and submits the complete audit Pack (including the audit report to the technical & planning administrator, audit administrator for verification.
5. Technical Review: The technical and planning admin completes the technical review and finalises the outcome of receiving the audit pack.

1. Verification of Information: The technical and planning audit administrator forwards the full pack to the Certification Manager for the certification decision.
2. Certification Decision: The Certification Manager reviews any NC report(s) and supporting evidence to confirm that all certification requirements have been met. If requirements are not met, the NC pack is returned to the auditor (and/or client via GTICS) for further action or clarification. Important: Clients must submit corrective action evidence within the required timeframe. Late submission may result in the certification decision being delayed and could trigger repeat audit activity (e.g., repeat of Stage 2 for initial certification) or suspension, withholding of certification for already-certified clients (depending on the scheme rules GTICS rules). If all requirements are met, the Certification Manager issues the decision for, Initial Certification, or, Continued Certification (Surveillance), or Recertification.
3. Audit Process Certificate (Certificate Issue): The Certification Manager communicates the certification decision to the technical and planning administrator, who prepares the certificate for authorised signature or approval. Once signed or approved, the technical and planning administrato issues the certificate to the client. Certificates are issued after Stage 2 (initial certification) and after Recertification audits (as applicable). After Stage 2, the client receives the original certificate (delivery method as per GTICS practice) and an electronic copy. After Recertification, the client receives the updated certificate (e.g., courier) plus an electronic copy. Certificates will not be released where there are outstanding payments.

1. Certificate Withdrawal Conditions: Yes, a GTICS accredited certificate may be withdrawn where:
   • The organisation ceases certification activities (i.e., requests termination or no longer wishes to remain certified).
   • The client fails to resolve issues that resulted in suspension within the timeframe set by GTICS (or the applicable accreditation and scheme rules).
     • Note: Where suspension cannot be lifted within the defined period (e.g., within 6 months), withdrawal may be required.
   • Any situation where the integrity of the certificate or the audit process is materially compromised (e.g., misuse of marks, misleading claims, serious breach of impartiality or conflict-of-interest rules, or evidence of fraud).
2. GTICS Actions Following Withdrawal: GTICS will:
   • Update the client’s certification status in all relevant registers, databases, and portals.
   • Update the client status on the GTICS Certification Register (where applicable).
   • Notify the organisation in writing that the certificate has been withdrawn, including the effective date and required next actions.

Yes, GTICS may suspend a client’s accredited certificate, for example:

• Nonconformity close-out requirements are not met, including where:
  • Corrective actions are not completed as required; and/or
  • Required corrective action evidence is not submitted within the agreed timeframe.
• The client’s certified management system continually fails to meet requirements for specific parts of the scope, which may result in:
  • A reduction of certification scope (e.g., partial scope reduction); and/or
  • The client being unable to demonstrate effective implementation for those parts of the scope.
• The client does not permit GTICS to conduct required surveillance or recertification audits in line with the agreed audit programme.
• The client’s certified management system persistently or seriously fails to meet the relevant scheme, certification requirements, including the effectiveness of the system.
• The client requests an audit extension (where allowed), and the applicable conditions or limits are not met.
  • Where scheme rules allow an extension, GTICS will set the allowable period and conditions (some schemes may limit extensions, e.g., to a defined maximum number of days).
• The client is unable or unwilling to establish and maintain conformity with the applicable scheme requirements.
• A significant incident occurs (scheme-specific), such as:
  • A serious accident indicating that the management system no longer meets requirements (OHSMS schemes only, where applicable).
• Significant breaches occur that undermine certification integrity (scheme-specific), such as:
  • Serious non-compliance with agreed certification conditions between the client and GTICS (e.g., misuse of certification claims or marks, obstruction, or breach of contractual requirements).
• There are significant complaints indicating that the certified system may not be effectively implemented, or that certification claims may be misleading.

The auditor issues the nonconformity (NC). The client identifies and implements immediate corrections to contain or fix the issue. The client then investigates the nonconformity to determine the root cause(s). An assessment is performed to confirm whether other parts of the management system are, or could be, affected by the same root cause(s). The client defines and implements corrective actions that address the confirmed root cause(s) to prevent recurrence.

The client completes all relevant sections of the Nonconformity (NC) Report issued by the auditor and submits the required information to GTICS within the specified timeframe, calculated from the last day of the audit:

• Within 80 calendar days: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO 22000, and HACCP.

Submission pack must include:

• Completed NC Report
• Evidence of implemented corrections
• Root cause investigation and confirmed root cause(s)
• Evidence of implemented corrective actions

Review of Submission

The auditor reviews the submitted information, engages with the client where required, and aims to conclude the review within 4 days of receipt.

The absolute cut-off to finalise the review is 90 calendar days after the last audit day (for management systems other than ISO 22000), depending on the nature, quantity of NCs, and site verification requirements. The audit administrator will confirm the expected duration and any associated costs with the client.

If an NC is not closed within 80 calendar days (latest), the certificate shall be suspended. For Stage 2 audits where closure is not achieved, Stage 2 must be repeated within a maximum of 6 months from the last day of the audit.