GSCI Services Pvt. Ltd. – Suspension of CB Accreditation

The assurance system auditing and certification processes support a network of certification bodies. These certification bodies are required to conform with the policies and procedures to conduct audits and issue certificates to assess conformity with the standards. Certification bodies must maintain accreditation by conforming with these policies and procedures.

All certification bodies undergo assessment by an authorized accreditation body for the standards before beginning any auditing and certification work. Accreditation bodies are independent organizations that, in accordance with ISO/IEC 17011, assess certification bodies’ competency to perform certification activities with a given standard.

At least once per year certification bodies are assessed by their accreditation body to confirm their qualification and conformity with the requirements. This yearly assessment involves review at the certification body’s headquarters with key staff as well as shadow audits of client sites where the assessor observes the auditor’s performance. When non-conformities are identified, the certification body has a defined amount of time to correct them to maintain their accreditation status.

The process of suspension includes a due diligence process whereby the certification body may file an appeal to the accreditation body regarding the suspension decision, giving further credibility in case there are procedural issues with the accreditation body’s processes. Each accreditation body sets its own appeal timeline, which may result in several months passing before the final suspension and its consequences occur. If the certification body does not correct its non-conformities related to the suspension, a similar withdrawal procedure and timeline occur as defined by the accreditation body.

As part of the annual certification body assessment process in 2022, GSCI Services Pvt. Ltd. (GSCI) was found to have non-conformities with Textile Exchange’s assurance requirements. These were not corrected within the required timeframes and as a result, their ability to provide certification services for Textile Exchange standards is affected.

GSCI’s accreditation body, IOAS, has suspended their accreditation to all Textile Exchange standards effective August 11, 2023.

Transaction certificates previously issued by GSCI are still considered valid – unless otherwise notified by GSCI or Textile Exchange. To authenticate a transaction certificate issued by GSCI, please see the Textile Exchange transaction certificate portal.

Please note that IOAS has specified that GSCI is not permitted to issue transaction certificates while the suspension is active, effective as of August 11, 2023. Textile Exchange recognizes the burden that this creates for the clients of this certification body. If and when the suspension is lifted, GSCI will be able to issue transaction certificates subject to Textile Exchange’s standard timelines.

The Withdrawal of Certification Body Licensing procedure (ASR-112-v2.0), section D details the requirements for certification bodies to communicate to their certification clients directly regarding how this suspension will impact their certification services.

If you are a certified client of GSCI, you should soon receive their notification. Below are some additional potential next steps and resources to assist you with the process:

Contact your current certification body for more details regarding how this suspension may impact the certification services you receive.

Should you wish to transfer your certification to an alternative certification body, please:

Note that any such voluntary transfer may require another audit and be subject to its additional costs. See ASR-101-v2.1 section D4.12 for more details.

Review this page of certification bodies licensed to certify against the relevant Textile Exchange standard(s) in your region and contact them for quotes to become newly certified by them.

When an organization transfers between certification bodies (from the “preceding certification body” to the “succeeding certification body”, including when the transfer occurs at recertification), the succeeding certification body may issue transaction certificates for shipments from the time when the organization was certified with the preceding certification body, provided that all the conditions of calibration# 229 are met. Please contact your certification body for more information.

Inform the chosen succeeding certification body of the circumstance and provide them a copy of this communication.

While Textile Exchange is disappointed by this situation and the conditions that will impact site certifications, these circumstances reflect the integrity and consistency of its assurance system. In turn, this helps to ensure greater credibility of the standards and of the entities that offer auditing and certification services.