Reconsideration of existing accreditation
Article 4
1. The scheme owner shall implement procedures to monitor any changes in the standards referred to in Article 2(1) or in Article 6(3), or to a conformity assessment scheme owned by it and on the basis of which a conformity assessment body has been accredited in accordance with Article 2. 2. The scheme owner shall notify the national accreditation body of the changes identified as a result of the procedures referred to in paragraph 1, in a timely manner. 3. Where the national accreditation body did not apply flexible scope accreditation to accredited conformity assessment bodies, the national accreditation body shall determine whether the changes, identified as a result of the procedures referred to in paragraph 1, are likely to materially affect the ability of accredited conformity assessment bodies to conduct conformity assessments pursuant to schemes for which they have been accredited. 4. Where the national accreditation body determines, pursuant to paragraph 3, that changes do affect the ability of conformity assessment bodies to conduct conformity assessments, it shall request the conformity assessment body to take appropriate measures within a reasonable prescribed period. 5. If the conformity assessment body is unable or unwilling to take the measures referred to in paragraph 4 within the period prescribed, the national accreditation body shall immediately withdraw or suspend the accreditation. 6. Where the national accreditation body determines, pursuant to paragraph 3, that changes do not affect the ability of conformity assessment bodies to conduct conformity assessments, it may, where appropriate, extend the validity and scope of the accreditation of the assessed conformity assessment body. 7. Where appropriate, the national accreditation body shall update the accreditation certificate in a timely manner to reflect the outcome of the reconsideration of the accreditation pursuant to this Article. 8. Where a conformity assessment body receives a request pursuant to paragraph 4, it shall, in a timely manner, inform any qualified trust service providers that it has previously assessed under the relevant conformity assessment scheme of any impacts that the reconsideration of the conformity assessment body’s accreditation may have on those qualified trust service providers, including with respect to future certification decisions made by the conformity assessment body under that scheme.