Acceptable use of Certification Marks
Acceptable use of Certification Marks
AARC-360 shall award a license to the Client to use its certification mark(s) and logo(s) for the duration of this Contract when used in accordance with the applicable Terms of Use. These rules shall ensure, among other things, traceability back to AARC-360. There shall be no ambiguity, in the mark or accompanying text, as to what has been certified and which certification body has granted the certification. This mark shall not be used on a product nor product packaging nor in any other way that may be interpreted as denoting product conformity. The Client shall not apply the certification marks to laboratory test, calibration or inspection reports or certificates.
The Client shall adhere to the rules governing the use of any statement on product packaging or in accompanying information that the Client has a certified management system. Product packaging is considered as that which can be removed without the product disintegrating or being damaged. Accompanying information is considered as separately available or easily detachable. Type labels or identification plates are considered as part of the product. The statement shall in no way imply that the product, process or service is certified by this means. The statement shall include reference to:
- identification (e.g., brand or name) of the certified client;
- the type of management system (e.g. quality, environment) and the applicable standard;
- AARC-360, the Certification Body issuing the certificate.
The Client shall:
- conform to the requirements of AARC-360 when making reference to its certification status in communication media such as the internet, brochures or advertising, or other documents;
- not make or permit any misleading statement regarding its certification;
- not use or permit the use of a certification document or any part thereof in a misleading manner;
- upon withdrawal of its certification, discontinue its use of all advertising matter that contains a reference to certification, as directed by AARC-360;
- amend all advertising matter when the scope of certification has been reduced;
- not allow reference to its management system certification to be used in such a way as to imply that AARC-360 certifies a product (including service) or process;
- not use its certification in such a manner that would bring AARC-360 and/or certification system into disrepute and lose public trust.
AARC-360 shall exercise proper control of ownership and shall take action to deal with incorrect references to certification status or misleading use of certification documents, marks or audit reports. Such action could include requests for correction and corrective action, suspension, withdrawal of certification, publication of the transgression and, if necessary, legal action.
AARC-360 can and will randomly audit the use of its certification mark(s) and logo(s) for the duration of this Contract. AARC-360 reserves the right to substitute or withdraw the right to use any or all its certification mark(s), logo(s), certificates and audit documentation at any time in the event of non-compliance with the Terms of Use or should the Contract be terminated, for whatever reason.