ApexGlobal Quality will ensure that the value of certification is upheld, the services of ApexGlobal Quality shall be available to all users of Certification and such services shall be applied in a manner necessary to preserve impartiality, objectivity, independence, freedom from conflict of interest, freedom from bias, lack of prejudice, neutrality, fairness, open-mindedness, even-handedness, detachment and balance.

ApexGlobal Quality (including its auditors) shall not participate in the designing, implementation or maintenance (including Internal Audit) of the management systems of its certified clients and shall not have been engaged in such activities in the two years prior to the customer’s receipt of ApexGlobal Quality’s Certification services.

ApexGlobal Quality (including its licensees and auditors) may arrange training and participate as a trainer provided that, where the course relates to management systems or auditing, it is confined to the provision of generic principles (and is not providing content that is tailored to a particular company or its Management System).

ApexGlobal Quality undertakes to instil confidence in the delivery of its certification services to customers and other parties having an interest in certification. This is achieved by upholding the principles of impartiality, competence, responsibility, openness, confidentiality and responsiveness to complaints. ApexGlobal Quality is committed to safeguarding impartiality in its certification activities and recognises threats to impartiality from self interest, self review, familiarity and intimidation.

ApexGlobal Quality demonstrates its commitment to impartiality by regularly undertaking thorough assessments of the risks to impartiality and taking action to eliminate or minimise any risks identified. The risk assessment process is maintained through the company’s Impartiality and Governance Committee and associated management review process. All aspects of impartiality are ultimately overseen by the committee for safeguarding impartiality which assists in developing policies relating to impartiality; counteracts any tendency to allow commercial or other considerations to prevent consistent provision of certification activities; advises on matters affecting confidence in certification and regularly reviews the impartiality of the audit, certification and decision making process of the company.

From time to time the Company is required to evaluate its systems and procedures and practices, to ensure that impartiality in its certification is maintained. Parties with an interest in the certification services of ApexGlobal Quality are invited, by virtue of this policy, to submit any proposals, comments or relevant observations on the services of ApexGlobal Quality so that these may be considered by ApexGlobal Quality as part of its evaluation process for continual improvement.

Parties with an interest in certification shall be considered to include:

• Consumers and members of the public

• Non-Governmental organisations and trade bodies

• Governmental Authorities

• Customers of certified companies

• Certified clients

• Applicants for certification

All comments may be addressed to: ApexGlobal Quality, 11 Orion Drive, Norwich, NR50WB

Consultancy organisations are an established part of the implementation process of management systems. ApexGlobal Quality will co-operate with outside organisations for the benefit of the client but will have no direct affiliation with management or product system consultancy organisations. ApexGlobal Quality will take action to correct inappropriate claims of affiliation (stated or implied) by any consultancy or other organisation that suggests directly, or indirectly, that certification would be simpler, easier, faster or less expensive by virtue of their co-operation with ApexGlobal Quality.

Processes for granting, refusing, maintaining, renewing, suspending, restoring or withdrawing certification or expanding or reducing the scope of certification are conducted by ApexGlobal Quality personnel.