Abschnitt 3.6 - 3.6 Validity of Certificates
Duration of the Certificate
The validity of the certificate is determined in the relevant Principles of Testing and may not exceed five (5) years. In justified exceptional cases a certificate may be valid for up to ten (10) years.
The certificate shall become invalid
- a.
upon expiration of its validity,
- b.
bupon termination of the testing and certification contract,
- c.
upon revocation of the certificate by the Testing and Certification Body.
Revocation of the Certificate
The certificate may be revoked, especially if
- a.
the certificate holder fails to or no longer complies with the obligations under the present Rules of Procedure for Testing and Certification and/or under the contract concluded with the Testing and Certification Body,
- b.
the certificate holder has misled or attempted to deceive the Testing and Certification Body,
- c.
misleading or otherwise unlawful advertising is undertaken, especially using the test mark or the certificate, or if the mark or the certificate is misused, or if there is a breach of legal or contractual provisions concerning the use of a certificate.
The original certificate must be returned to the Testing and Certification Body.
Suspension or Limitation of the Certificate
Instead of revocation, the Testing and Certification Body may suspend a certificate. The Testing and Certification Body may also suspend a certificate in order to verify whether revocation thereof is justified on the basis of existing evidence. The certified person may not use the certificate for the duration of the suspension.
After a final decision has been made the Testing and Certification Body shall notify the certified person in writing as to whether the suspension will be lifted - possibly subject to certain conditions - or whether the certificate will be definitively revoked.
The Testing and Certification Body is authorized to publish the suspension, limitation or revocation of a certificate.