Becoming a PrimusGFS Certification Body

Audit companies seeking approval as PrimusGFS certification bodies should contact the PrimusGFS Certification Program for more details and copies of the current application/licensing documentation.

Some points to consider with regard to becoming an approved certification body:

1. Proof of company legal status, details of company ownership and company organization chart change with roles and responsibilities.
2. Signed application form (form available from PrimusGFS) and enrollment fee of $5000.
3. Signed license agreement (form available from PrimusGFS).
4. Proof of at least a $5 million (US) liability/errors and omissions insurance. Policy to be supplied at the time of application and updates provided on an annual basis.
5. Proof of ISO/IEC 17065 accreditation. A CB will be required to prove that they have applied to an accreditation body (one that has signed the IAF Multilateral Agreement) to have their operations ISO/IEC 17065 accredited against the current version of PrimusGFS. Note that CBs are allowed to perform audits as “provisionally approved” for up to 12 months from the date of application while progressing through the accreditation process.
6. CBs must utilize auditors that meet the requirements as noted in the current general regulations including qualifications, experience, training, and assessing. Proof that auditors meet these requirements is part of the documented auditor induction program/approval system.
7. CBs must ensure they and their chosen auditors are free from any conflicts of interest that would bring themselves or the Certification Program into disrepute.
8. PrimusGFS allows CBs to use subcontractors. A CB is wholly responsible for the audit process when the subcontractor is working on behalf of that CB. For all intents and purposes of the Certification Program, when a subcontractor performs an audit for a CB, the subcontractor is an employee of the approved CB.
9. PrimusGFS permits subcontractors to work for more than one CB, but CBs are allowed to state whether they allow their subcontractors to work for other CB’s. Please note:
   1. When a subcontractor works for more than one CB, they must go through each CBs auditor induction program/auditor approval system (i.e. approval cannot be transferred from one CB to another).
   2. Induction steps, such as training on CB SOP’s and forms (especially appeal/dispute systems) and auditor shadow assessments, must be performed for each CB that the subcontractor works with.
10. CBs and auditors must have access to reliable internet connections and computers, since PrimusGFS uses internet-based software for many facets of the Certification Program process.
11. CBs and CBs’ auditee clients must agree to Certification Program audit shadows which may occur on an occasional basis. CBs must also permit the Certification Program to review audit reports and conduct CB office audit visits from time to time as part of the Certification Program integrity program.
12. Requirements for CBs may change from time to time due to changes derived from the PrimusGFS Certification Program, GFSI, and the CB accreditation standards.