The Value of Accreditation: WAD2022

Accreditation has a positive impact on consumers, suppliers, purchasers, and regulators across industries and organisations worldwide. Proper accreditation and certification can demonstrate necessary expertise and training and ensure quality and reputability. That’s why ABAC™ Center of Excellence celebrates World Accreditation Day on Wednesday, 9 June 2022.

We understand that being affiliated with leading certification and accreditation bodies around the globe assures our clients, partners, and governing organisations that we have the highest level of knowledge and rigorous due diligence that our field requires.

World Accreditation Day (#WAD2022) is a global initiative established by ILAC and IAF to promote the value of accreditation. This year’s theme is Accreditation: Sustainability in Economic Growth and the Environment. The world economy relies heavily on natural resources provided by healthy ecosystems, yet we continue to put these ecosystems through enormous stress and consume resources at an alarming rate.

Accreditation, alongside other quality infrastructure tools, including metrology, standardisation, conformity assessment and market surveillance, can support the shift to a circular economy and more sustainable forms of production. The use of standards can help organisations adopt more eco-friendly practices, with accredited conformity assessment provides assurance that organisations meet requirements and fulfil claims.

ABAC™ encourages everyone to celebrate online using the hashtag #WAD2022 to attend our virtual event and contact your local accreditation body for further details on local media and online seminars and programs they may be organising. Reach out to IAF for more or follow IAF (@IAF_Global) and ILAC (@ILAC_Official) on Twitter and IAF on LinkedIn (International Accreditation Forum Inc) for the latest updates.

World Accreditation day: Contribute to sustainable development goals with ISO standards

International Standards published by ISO represent globally recognised guidelines and frameworks based on international collaboration. ISO standards “provide a solid base on which innovation can thrive and are essential tools to help governments, industry and consumers contribute to the achievement of every one of the SDGs”. For every SDG goal, ISO has identified the standards that make the most contribution. We are proud to announce that all ISO standard certification, implementation or training offered through ABAC™, contribute to at least 3 of the UN’s sustainable development goals.

ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management System

ISO 37001:2016 ABMS is developed to help organisations promote an ethical business culture. “Designed to help your organisation implement an anti-bribery management system (ABMS), and/or enhance the controls you currently have. It helps to reduce the risk of bribery [and corruption] occurring and can demonstrate to your stakeholders that you have put in place internationally recognised good-practice anti-bribery [and anti-corruption] controls”.

At ABAC™, we offer a complete suite of services and solutions designed to help organisations against bribery and corruption even when operating in multi-jurisdiction and multi-cultural environments. Corruption is everybody’s problem, and it cannot be prevented and detected if your employees aren’t provided with the information and training they need to combat it. ABAC™ offers Introductory, Internal Auditor and Lead Auditor training to all personnel who are involved in the development, implementation and evaluation of their organisation’s ABMS and in coordinating anti-bribery compliance activities within the organisation. Whilst our Certification is a mitigating piece of evidence to regulators, prosecutors, or even courts that your company has taken meaningful steps in its efforts to prevent bribery and corruption.

ISO 37001 ABMS contributes to the following UN’s sustainable development goals:

• 8 – Decent work and economic growth
• 11 – Sustainable cities and communities
• 16 – Peace, justice and strong institutions

ABAC™ program helps ensure that your business has implemented a management system which prevents, detects and responds to bribery and complies with anti-bribery laws, internally and externally (i.e. agents, consultants, suppliers, distributors and other third-parties). ABAC™ works with clients of all industries, sizes and organisation types to develop robust programs using the latest techniques and best practices that help foster an ethical business culture.

ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems

ISO 37301 is a widely accepted standard that provides guidance for establishing, developing, implementing, evaluating, maintaining and improving an organisation’s compliance management program. It covers all compliance-related issues, including anti-trust, fraud, misconduct, export control, anti-money laundering, and other unexpected risks which might affect your business.

Previously named ISO 19600, the standard was introduced by the International Organization for Standardisation (ISO) in April 2014, and replaced by ISO/DIS 37301 in 2021. ISO 37301 will establish requirements for implementing a compliance management system, as opposed to ISO 19600 CMS, which only provides recommendations.

ISO37301 CMS contributes to the following UN’s sustainable development goals:

• 8 – Decent work and economic growth
• 11 – Sustainable cities and communities
• 16 – Peace, justice and strong institutions

The guidelines set forth in the internationally accepted ISO 37301:2021 Compliance Management Systems represent the first step in developing a framework that protects the organisation from falling victim to the many risks associated with corporate bribery and/or corruption. ABAC™, powered by CRI Group™, is designed to assist in developing processes and systems that help your organisation to effectively manage compliance risks and foster a system-wide culture of business integrity. Comply with confidence with ISO 37301!

ISO 31000 Risk management

ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management provides principles, framework and a process for managing risk. Public, private and community enterprises can all benefit from ISO 31000:2018 because it covers most business activities, including research, planning, management and communications. Implementing ISO 31000:2018 can help organisations increase the likelihood of achieving objectives, improve the identification of opportunities and threats and effectively allocate and use resources for risk treatment:

• 3 – Good health and wellbeing
• 8 – Decent work and economic growth
• 9 – Industry, innovation and infrastructure
• 11 – Sustainable cities and communities
• 14 – Life below water
• 15 – Life on land
• 16 – Peace, justice and strong institutions

Contact our team today to apply for the ISO 31000 Risk Management or training and make your contribution to more sustainable business and society.

Proudly celebrating WAD2022 with globally recognised accreditations for ISO 37001, awarded by UKAS and EIAC

United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS)

ABAC™ is accredited by UKAS (since 2020) for administering ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management System certification. UKAS also accredited ABAC™ CoE in the UK, Malaysia and Dubai for ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 conformity assessment — requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems.

With ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 certification, UKAS attests that ABAC® CoE “has demonstrated to UKAS that it has the systems and processes in place to provide the competence and capability, including an understanding of local requirements, to manage and issue accredited management system certification in the country in which it is established, and in any other country, for the standard and scopes detailed on this schedule,” UKAS said in a statement.

UKAS is the sole national accreditation body for the United Kingdom, and is recognised by the government, to assess against internationally agreed standards, organisations that provide certification, testing, inspection and calibration services.

Zafar Anjum, CEO of ABAC™, said “We are honoured that UKAS has accredited the ABAC™ Center of Excellence for ISO 37001:2016 certification. We know this anti-bribery management standard is critical for any organisation seeking to prevent bribery and money laundering, and stay in compliance with new and emerging laws and legislation.”

Huma Khalid, Scheme Manager at ABAC™, said: “As the United Kingdom’s sole national accreditation body, UKAS’s endorsement is critical in knowing are expert trainers are providing the best possible guidance and certification process for ISO 37001:2016.”

Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC)

ABAC™ Certification is also accredited by EIAC, which made it the first accreditation of its kind awarded to a certification body specialising in global anti-bribery and anti-corruption, risk and compliance standards.

EIAC was established pursuant to Law number (27) for the year 2015, issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, to become the governmental accreditation body of the Emirate of Dubai. EIAC’s main activity is to accredit Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs), both Governmental and Private, within the UAE and overseas.

EIAC recognises that attaining excellence and ensuring the integrity of products delivered to the society can only be achieved through an inclusive approach and collaboration with all stakeholders, not least the legislation and regulatory bodies and Conformity Assessment Bodies.

“EIAC is an esteemed accreditation body, and we are honoured to have earned the first accreditation of its kind for ABAC Certification’s ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management System standard,” Anjum said.

Make the impact with ABAC™

On this year’s World Accreditation Day, visit abacgroup.com and learn more about how your organisation can benefit from ABAC Certification today.

Let’s Talk! If you have any further questions or interest in implementing compliance solutions, please contact us.

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