Changing accreditation body is a governance project, not simply a commercial switch. The receiving body must establish competence independently, and the organisation must protect customers from misleading claims or a gap in valid accredited status.
First, clarify what is being transferred
Accreditation of a conformity assessment body is different from transfer of an accredited management-system certificate between certification bodies. IAF MD 2 sets minimum rules for the latter. An accreditation body may have its own process for accepting an already accredited laboratory, inspection body or certification body; accreditation itself is not automatically portable.
A safe transfer sequence
- Confirm the reason and target. Record the business, regulatory and recognition requirements driving the change.
- Check eligibility and recognition. Verify that the receiving body covers the exact standard and technical scope and that its recognition is accepted in every required market.
- Compare scopes line by line. Map methods, standards, ranges, locations and exclusions; do not assume identical wording means identical coverage.
- Disclose status completely. Provide the current certificate and scope, assessment reports, open findings, complaints, suspensions, restrictions and relevant regulator correspondence.
- Agree the assessment plan. The new body decides what document review, office assessment and witnessing are needed. Budget for overlap and corrective action.
- Control claims and marks. Set dates for ending the former mark and introducing the new one across certificates, reports, website pages and templates.
- Notify affected parties. Inform clients and regulators where contracts or law require it, using wording approved by the relevant bodies.
- Close out the former relationship. Follow contractual notice, return or stop using marks, settle fees and retain evidence of the change.
Avoiding a recognition gap
Do not surrender current accreditation before the receiving body confirms its decision unless the circumstances require it. At the same time, never imply dual accreditation for work or dates that are not covered. Build a transition register showing each scope item, old status, new status, effective date, document owner and customer communication.
Red flags
- A promise to “transfer” without technical assessment or review of open findings.
- Recognition claimed generally, without checking the relevant main and sub-scope.
- Backdating certificates, scopes or use of marks.
- Moving solely to avoid unresolved nonconformities or enforcement.
- Assuming a voluntary accreditation will satisfy a statutory appointment.
Where the current body has ceased trading or lost recognition, act promptly and seek written instructions from the receiving accreditation body, regulators and scheme owners.