LRQA receives accreditation for Clean Development Mechanism

LRQA has been awarded Designated Operational Entity (DOE) status by the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Executive Board related to validation for Scope 13 Waste Handling and Disposal.

LRQA has been awarded Designated Operational Entity (DOE) status by the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Executive Board related to validation for Scope 13 Waste Handling and Disposal.

CDM is one of three mechanisms introduced through the Kyoto Protocol to supplement national actions to achieve Greenhouse Gas emissions reductions; CDM covers emission reduction projects in developing countries. Industrial nations are granted the right to generate or purchase emissions reduction credits from projects undertaken by them in developing countries.

The Kyoto Protocol requires that to be eligible for emissions credits a CDM project must be validated and verified by an accredited DOE.

Simon Batters, Vice President, LRQA Japan & Korea, said, "This important step in CDM accreditation is a reflection of LRQA's commitment to the supply of world class validation and verification services. It also clearly demonstrates the level of our technical expertise throughout our global network."

Ian Hodgskinson, Managing Director of LRQA said, "The publication of the Stern Review in the UK relating to the global economic impact of greenhouse gases demonstrates the importance of mechanisms like CDM. LRQA are proud to be involved in the implementation of clean development mechanism."

LRQA applied for CDM accreditation in April 2004 and has undergone a series of successful reviews and site visits by the CDM accreditation team to achieve accreditation.

Further information about CDM and LRQA's services can be found by emailing climate-change@lrqa.com.

LRQA approves DP World to ISO 28000:2007, a world first.

LRQA (Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance), a member of the Lloyd’s Register Group, has issued its first ISO/PAS 28000 certificate of approval for international supply chain security to one of the world’s major global container port terminal operators – DP World.

ISO/PAS 28000 is the management system specification which underpins the operational requirements now being implemented by most supply chain operators as they strive to enhance security and deal with threats from both terrorists and criminals.

Presenting the certificate of approval to DP World’s CEO, Mr Mohammed Sharaf, at its Head Office in Dubai, Lloyd’s Register Group’s Area Manager for the Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Tony Muncer, stated that LRQA is delighted to be working with DP World, an organisation which is clearly placing security at the top of its agenda and showing the rest of world that management systems are an imperative tool for managing supply chain security risks.

Mr Muncer said: “We believe that all businesses that are reliant on the supply chain for business continuity will benefit by adopting the sound management principles in ISO/PAS 28000. LRQA’s ‘business assurance’ approach to assessment will ensure that clients’ assured under ISO/PAS 28000 will gain maximum benefit from the standard.”

Paul Lightburn, Lloyd’s Register’s Group Product Manager for ISO/PAS 28000 emphasises the importance of this specification because it helps companies demonstrate to their supply chain partners and stakeholders that they have top management commitment and sound operations arrangements in place for identifying threats and managing risks. More companies are now expected to comply with codes and regulations like C-TPAT, the World Customs Organization’s Framework of Standards and the EC’s Regulation for Enhancing Supply Chain Security. However, they will only achieve the necessary operational objectives if companies have in place a sound management systems framework, like ISO/PAS 28000, to ensure requirements are implemented and verified.

For more information on the press release contact

ISO 28000 Further Information

LRQA appoints new Business Centre Manager

Leading global management systems certification body, LRQA has appointed Denis Ives as UK Business Centre Manager with responsibility for the management of LRQA’s services within the UK. This will see Denis continuing the implementation of the company’s strategy of Business Assurance to help support clients in managing their businesses more effectively.

Denis has been with LRQA for nearly thirteen years latterly as an Assessment Manager responsible for the management of LRQA services in the south east. During this time, he has been key in driving forward the company’s integrated management system assessment capability to meet growing market demand. Most recently, Denis has had responsibility for leading development of UK capability in support of the company’s business assurance approach.

Commenting on his appointment, Denis said: “This is an exciting time to be taking over the helm within the UK. Our new ‘business assurance’ approach is about helping our customers better manage their businesses more effectively – for example, in the areas of quality, environmental, safety and information security. This means our clients can have increased confidence that they are meeting their objectives and delivering on the promises they make.

“Our new approach is a natural evolution of our services. It is about placing the client at the heart of everything we do and to support them in increasingly challenging local and world market conditions. My job is to enable this change and to provide the environment in which to make it happen,” he concludes.

A Registered Lead Auditor (Aerospace), Denis is an Associate Member of both the IQA and the IEMA.

Denis succeeds Mike James who becomes Management Systems Area Business Manager with responsibility throughout the EMEA region.

LRQA and CCFRA launch ISO 22000 Lead Auditor training course

Campden & Chorleywood Food Research Association (CCFRA) and leading certification body, LRQA have joined forces in developing an ISO 22000 Food Safety Management Systems Auditor/Lead Auditor training course.

It has been developed for those who need to lead audit teams or conduct audits against the requirements of this new food safety standard. The five-day course will be held at CCFRA’s purpose built training facility in Gloucestershire and delivered jointly by LRQA and CCFRA lead auditors with food related qualifications, a wealth of HACCP experience and skilled in accelerated learning techniques.

“The course provides delegates with the experience of two major players in our fields – LRQA, a world leading assessment body and CCFRA, a renowned centre of excellence for food safety and the world’s largest independent supplier of technical support services to the agri-food chain. Together, we bring the market years of experience,” comments Tom Bradford, LRQA Trainer Manager. “This intensive, five-day course includes a challenging case study which is extensively used to apply and develop key audit skills throughout.”

The course comes at a time of increasing recognition that food safety is the most important issue in the global food supply chain today. It was against this backdrop that ISO 22000 was launched last year to give companies within the food and related sectors a tool to implement HACCP throughout the food supply chain. Earlier this year, LRQA became one of the first organisations to provide accredited certification to the standard.

LRQA offers new accredited services to ISO 22000

Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance (LRQA) is one of the first organisations to be accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to provide certification to the new global food safety management system standard, ISO 22000.

LRQA is in an ideal position to provide a range of accredited services to the new standard as they were closely involved in its development as a member of the ISO 22000 working group. Commenting on the news, John Roberts, food sector manager of LRQA UK said: “Meeting the requirements of this international standard gives assurance to those within the food supply chain that a company practices robust manufacturing processes and HACCP techniques. Certification by LRQA gives the assurance that the management system fully meets the standard.”

ISO has developed the standard in recognition that food safety is the most important issue in the global food supply chain today. It gives companies a tool to implement HACCP throughout the food supply chain because the standard is suitable for all stakeholders in the chain. Importantly, it aims to provide a single common global standard which could reduce the number of audits carried out each year by retailers and food manufacturers.

The format of the standard is based on the plan-do-check-act cycle shared by ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 therefore making it suitable for the development of an integrated risk based management system. Customers can therefore opt to have their visits combined with other audits where appropriate, which will be particularly beneficial to those currently receiving multiple visits.

LRQA Training has developed a learner-centred five-day Lead Auditor event, delivered by professional trainers with extensive experience of the food industry. The event is available both publicly and in-company. Dates, costs and course content is available from Training Advisors on 0800 328 6543.

ISO 22000:2005 Further Information

LRQA launches service for SIA’s new Approved Contractor Scheme

Global assessment body, Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA) has launched a service for private security organisations needing certification to the Security Industry Authority’s (SIA) Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS).

The ACS standard includes all aspects of business operation, taking a holistic view of how well an organisation is managed and how effectively it services its customers. Holding Approved Contractor status enables a company to deliver a higher quality service and achieve greater efficiency through more flexible deployment of security staff. While it is against the law to use licensable security personnel who don’t hold an SIA licence, approved companies have dispensation to use a small proportion of people whose licence applications are being processed.

One of the first assessing bodies to be appointed by the SIA, LRQA has many years experience in developing products and delivering services for the security sector. “LRQA has been at the forefront of developing products and services for the security industry and its customers for many years. We are a well known and trusted name in management system certification and understand the needs of business today,” comments Don Stanley, LRQA Head of Assessment and Training.

“In addition, we only use assessors with specialist security experience and knowledge of the industry they are assessing. This means, as a company we have first-hand experience of the type of issues organisations will be facing.”

Those companies who are already approved to the quality management system standard, ISO 9001 will find similarities with the ACS standard. To help these companies, requirements within ISO 9001 are cross referenced throughout the ACS standard. In addition, LRQA can combine the regular ISO 9001 maintenance visit and the ACS verification where appropriate.

The Lloyd’s Register Group acquires professional services certification body

The Lloyd’s Register Group, through Lloyd’s Register Nederlands B.V., has acquired Incert B .V., a leading professional services certification body in the Netherlands. Incert is active in the Belgium and Dutch markets and has a particular focus on the education sector. Incert will trade through the LRQA brand, the management system assessment arm of the Lloyd’s Register Group.

The acquisition will enable the Group to expand its business into new sectors. Paul Graaf, Manager for LRQA in the Netherlands, comments: “Working with the Incert Group means that we will be able to develop our services in the education sector through well established brands that have high credibility in the marketplace. It also provides us with the knowledge base to move one of our core services, the assessment against ISO 9001, into the professional services sectors, such as legal, financial and insurance.”

Paul Esveld, Director of Incert, adds: “The global reach of the Lloyd’s Register Group means that we can expand our services into the European market and other countries around the world.”