This is from UKAS Chief Executive Linda Campbell:
"UKAS is aware that there is international concern about malpractice in the ISO 9000 certification field. We have participated in talks in ISO that led to the message given out by the Secretary General. We take very seriously allegations that there is malpractice, and we invite anyone with specific information relating to a UKAS accredited certification bodies to provide it to us for our action.
"We do occasionally come across examples of lack of integrity in the certification industry, and deal with it severely. Unfortunately this cannot normally be publicly. However, we do not believe that the UK certification industry lacks integrity. Far from it. The certification bodies work in the confidence business, and they are the first to appreciate that without reputation they are nothing. UKAS is an important part of the assurance behind that integrity.
"It would appear, however, that there is cause for concern. There is enough smoke to suggest fire. In particular we hear of allegations that certification bodies mix certification with the provision of consultancy in such a way as to undermine the independence of the certification process. Accreditation bodies can only act against this on the basis of evidence, and this is most likely to arise from complaints. The audit process alone is unlikely to reveal evidence about deliberate malpractice. So we appeal to anyone with information that might substantiate these allegations to complain, with the evidence, to the body that accredits the certification body in question, whether this be UKAS or one of our sister organisations in other countries. The activities of unaccredited certification bodies are of course more difficult to control.
"For us, the accreditation audit process is primarily concerned with competence, and the new ISO 9001 standard is posing a very real challenge to the competence of the certification bodies and their auditors. We are working with these to try to make the implementation of the new standard through accredited certification a value adding process for industry, one that will be unrecognisable to those who expect certification to be a bureaucratic tick-box exercise.
"It would be a tragedy if the valuable technical work being undertaken were to be undermined by innuendo. On the other hand, were there to be substance behind such innuendo, the certification industry would need to put its house in order speedily. UKAS would use all its available powers to bring this about. So, if you have evidence of malpractice, let us know so we an act".