Use of Logo and Certificate

1.0. Purpose:

To document, establish, implement and maintain the system for the correct use of certification mark as per requirements of documents referred in SSPL_MSM-05.

2.0. Scope:

This procedure gives requirements for the certification mark including their issue and use and shall be applicable to the mark of conformity issue against the management system standard certified

3.0. Responsibility:

Managing Director

4.0. Procedure:

SSPL shall issue the certificate as described in QP-11.

The certificates issued by SSPL remain the property of SSPL and must be returned when requested.

4.3.1. The client is authorized to use the certification mark in advertising material and SSPL has legally enforceable arrangements require that while using this mark the client shall ensure that:

Conforms to the requirements of SSPL when making reference to its certification status in communication media such as the internet, brochures or advertising, or other documents
Does not make or permit any misleading statement regarding its certification
Does not use or permit the use of a certification document or any part thereof in a misleading manner
Discontinues its use of all advertising matter that contains a reference to certification upon withdrawal of its certification, as directed by SSPL
Amends all advertising matter when the scope of certification has been reduced
Does not allow reference to its management system certification to be used in such a way as to imply that SSPL certifies a product (including service) or process; packaging as this could be interpreted as denoting product conformity
Does not imply that the certification applies to activities and sites that are outside the scope of certification
Does not use its certification in such a manner that would bring SSPL and/or certification system into disrepute and lose public trust
SSPL do not permits its marks to be applied by certified clients to laboratory test, calibration or inspection reports or certificates
Logos shall also not to be applied on visiting cards

4.3.2. Whenever the accreditation mark is to be used by SSPL certified clients, it is to be accompanied by SSPL logo & both marks are to be proportioned so that neither has obvious precedence or more prominence over the other and its use is limited to stationery, literature and other written promotional materials

4.3.3. SSPL / Accreditation Body (AB) mark may be uniformly reduced or enlarged but shall not be less than 15 mm in height and not less than 12mm in width (minimum size15x12mm.), but both the symbols should be legible.

4.3.4. The symbols may be reproduced electronically, provided that the requirements of the respective ABs as described in this procedure are met and distortion and / or degradation do not occur.

4.3.6. Where the organization (the client) wishes to make reference to its certification instead of using the symbols of SSPL & ABs, the organization shall use without variation the phrase “An ISO XXXXX:XXXX Certified Company” (identify the applicable ISO standard namely ISO 14001: 2015, ISO 45001:2018 etc.).

4.4.1. SSPL certification mark for AB accredited certificates may only be reproduced as shown in Annexure-1, QP/20-1.

4.5.1. Accreditation Logo: The accreditation mark shall be reproduced as shown in Annexure-1, QP/20-1. The logo shall only be printed in the colour combination or in the gray black combination.

The misuse of marks or certificate shall result in the following actions:

4.6.1. Innocent Misuse

Immediate withdrawal of the offending literature by the client or
Suspension of approval (certification) until misuse is rectified.

If action is not taken to rectify the misuse within a reasonable time, the approval will be withdrawn.

4.6.2 Negligent / Fraudulent misuse

Withdrawal of approval together with publication of the reason for withdrawal.

Misuse is deemed negligent / fraudulent where the mark is knowingly or carelessly misused. Repeated “innocent” misuse would be deemed negligent.

SSPL exercises proper control of ownership and takes action to deal with incorrect references to certification status or misleading use of certification documents, marks or audit reports.

4.6.2.1 Legal Action

SSPL shall exercise proper control of ownership and shall take action to deal with incorrect reference to certification status or misleading use of certification document, mark or audit report.
If necessary, legal action shall be taken against the client by way of lodging First Information Report with the competent authority.

In the event that approval is withdrawn, the client shall immediately cease use and distribution of any literature, stationary etc. bearing the mark. The artwork supplied and all the original approval certificates are to be returned to SSPL.

4.8.1 Correct use of SSPL and AB mark is a contractual obligation that the client undertakes to comply with as per agreement signed with SSPL.

4.8.2 Where SSPL and AB marks have been used by the client, their use is to be reviewed at all surveillance and re-certification audits to ensure that their use is correct and in accordance with PD-03 issued by SSPL to client along-with Certificate.

4.8.3 Any misuse of logo shall be brought to the attention of the client and included in the surveillance or the re-certification audit reports.

4.8.4 It is likely that in some cases the client may have to update the logos and they still may have stationery and brochures showing the previously issued SSPL and AB logos. Under such circumstance, it is permissible for the client to continue use of the previously issued logo on the understanding that the new logos must be used in the next printing.

5.0 Records: NIL

6.0. Reference

Reference

QP-11 – Procedure for Granting, Maintaining, Renewing, Extending, Reducing, Suspending and withdrawing of Certification
PD-03 – Conditions for use of Marks & Certification

Use of Logo and Certificate