Overview of schemes
What is a scheme? An overview
The purpose of schemes is to provide visibility and transparency to the users of products and services. This is so that when conformity assessment activities are undertaken, it is clear that claims are underpinned by valid requirements and specifications. Where scheme owners wish for their schemes to be underpinned through the accredited conformity assessment route, UKAS are required to review the scheme to ensure it has validity and can be recognised.
Every scheme has a scheme owner. A scheme owner can be a CAB itself, a governmental authority, an industry association or another body. In the absence of an identifiable scheme owner, any CAB wishing to provide evaluation for a scheme takes on the responsibility for the scheme. Where the scheme is not owned by a CAB, it is referred to as an “external scheme owner” (e.g. IATF, TIA, ECEE, IECEx, IECQ, IECRE).
Schemes enable stakeholders, including users of accredited conformity assessment, to understand the parameters against which an item or entity has been assessed when a statement of conformity has been made.
Recognition of schemes
UKAS has a formal process to recognise schemes that have been developed by scheme owners to support accredited conformity assessment bodies in consistently delivering their services.
UKAS’s scheme review process follows methods that can result in schemes being recognised within the UK as well as international markets, giving confidence that they are fit for purpose and eligible for Accreditation purposes.
The UKAS scheme recognition process
New Scheme
Develop a scheme
There are several ISO standards that refer to schemes, but they all reference the definition in ISO/IEC 17000:2020, which states that a conformity assessment scheme or programme is a set of rules and procedures that describes the objects of conformity assessment, identifies the specified requirements and provides the methodology for performing conformity assessment. Scheme owners should familiarise themselves with the appropriate requirements.
Obtain the relevant standard
You can purchase international standards from the BSI website. Familiarise yourself with the clauses and conduct a gap analysis. Supporting publications can be found on the UKAS website and preparation for scheme review courses and webinars are available from the UKAS Development and Scheme Integrity Team.
Initiate the scheme review process
Contact the UKAS Development and Scheme Integrity Department and we will confirm the actions you need to take to initiate a review of your scheme. We will guide you through the process and are here to answer all your questions. Once your application is submitted and your fee is paid, the scheme review process can begin.
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Formal scheme review
Your allocated Development representative will be able to support and guide you through the process and can conduct an initial review to identify gaps and help prepare for the formal review.
Results
We will talk you through the results of your review and provide a report that highlights conclusions, including any areas that need correction/improvement.
Recognition of scheme
Once a successful review has been completed, including any resolutions to issues noted UKAS will confirm their conclusion that the scheme is fit for purpose and therefore is recognised for use under appropriate accredited conformity assessment. Please remember UKAS does not accredit Conformity Assessment Schemes themselves but accredits their delivery by a Certification or inspection body.
Newly recognised or Existing Recognised schemes
Ongoing Assurances
Once a Scheme has been recognised and is ready to be used, any Certification or Inspection body can seek to include it in their repertoire and once accredited there will be ongoing assessment of it throughout the Conformity Assessment Bodies 4 year accreditation cycle. It will have a scheduled review at least once, as routine, but will also be subject to review if any changes are made to the scheme, regulations, requirements. Any changes to the scheme should be highlighted to your UKAS contact as soon as possible, so a review can be scheduled.
Training and resources
There are a set of bespoke e learning modules that can be accessed by emailing scheme.integrity@ukas.com
Useful Documents and publications
ISO/IEC 17067 Conformity assessment – Fundamentals of product certification and guidelines for product certification schemes – Purchase from National Standards Body (e.g. BSI online)
Safety, Compliance and Assurance Lead at LEAP Scheme
9moJon Ruddock