How Verity certificates, claims and verification records may be used.
These rules explain how certified organisations may refer to Verity Certification, use certificate documents, describe their certification status, and respond to customer or procurement requests. They are designed to prevent overclaiming, protect buyers and keep the distinction between private non-UKAS certification and UKAS-accredited certification clear.
Use must match the scope
Certification claims must match the exact organisation, standard, scope, location and services shown on the certificate and verification register. The certificate must not be used to imply coverage for activities that were not reviewed.
No accredited-status claims
Certified organisations must not imply UKAS accreditation, IAF recognition, statutory approval, regulatory approval or public-body endorsement unless that claim is separately true and evidenced.
Status must remain current
A certificate must not be used after expiry, suspension or withdrawal. Where a certificate is replaced, the older version must not be used as if it remains the current certificate.
Certificate use is part of certification control
A certificate can be misused even where the original assessment was sound. Misuse usually happens when a certificate is copied into a tender, website, brochure or supplier form in a way that makes the certificate appear broader, more official or more current than it really is.
Verity’s certificate-use rules are therefore not cosmetic. They are part of the control system that protects the certified organisation, its customers and procurement people reviewing the evidence.
- Claims must be accurate, proportionate and tied to the stated scope.
- Certificate copies must not be edited, cropped or repurposed in a misleading way.
- Marketing wording must not blur the difference between accredited and non-accredited certification.
- Buyers must be able to verify certificate status through the verification register.
- Misuse may lead to correction requests, suspension, withdrawal or public status updates.
For tenders, frameworks and supplier approvals
Where a certificate is submitted to a buyer, the certified organisation should provide the certificate number, the standard, the scope, the expiry date and the verification route. It should not rely on vague claims such as “ISO approved”, “fully accredited” or “UKAS equivalent”.
Where the buyer asks specifically for UKAS-accredited certification, the certified organisation must not submit a Verity private certificate as if it were accredited. The safe route is to disclose the private non-UKAS status and ask whether equivalent evidence will be accepted.
Read UKAS vs non-UKAS guidanceWhat certified organisations may normally do
Certified organisations may refer to their Verity certification where the wording is accurate, current and limited to the scope actually certified.
Use the certificate in supplier files
A current certificate may be included in supplier approval packs, customer evidence packs, pre-qualification submissions and internal compliance records, provided the scope and status are not misrepresented.
Refer to the verification record
The certificate number and verification page may be provided to customers so they can check the organisation, standard, scope, issue date, expiry date and current status.
Use accurate website wording
A certified organisation may state that its management system has been privately reviewed and certified by Verity Certification against the stated standard for the stated scope.
Explain the evidence pack
Where available, the organisation may explain that an evidence pack, audit summary or assessment record exists, subject to confidentiality and controlled disclosure.
Share controlled audit summaries
With appropriate permission, selected audit-summary information may be shared with customers or procurement teams to explain the basis of certification.
Use certification for internal improvement
Certification may be used internally to support governance, management review, staff awareness, process improvement and evidence-led control.
Acceptable claim examples
These examples are generally suitable, provided the certificate is active and the claim matches the certificate scope.
- “Our quality management system has been privately reviewed and certified by Verity Certification against ISO 9001:2015 requirements for the stated scope.”
- “Verity Certification has issued a private non-UKAS certificate for our documented quality management system. Certificate status can be verified using the certificate number.”
- “Certification applies to the activities and locations listed on the certificate and verification record.”
- “Where a buyer requires UKAS-accredited certification, we will confirm whether this private non-UKAS certification is acceptable before relying on it.”
Unacceptable claim examples
These examples should not be used because they are vague, inflated or likely to mislead buyers.
- “We are UKAS certified by Verity.”
- “Our Verity certificate is the same as UKAS certification.”
- “Government-approved ISO certification.”
- “Fully accredited ISO approved company.”
- “Certified for all services” where the certificate only covers a narrower scope.
- “ISO certified products” where the certification applies only to the management system.
- “Verity guarantees tender acceptance.”
Rules for common places where certificates are used
Certificate-use risks often arise because the same certificate is reused across websites, tenders, sales proposals and email signatures without checking whether the wording remains accurate.
Public claims
Website wording must state the certification accurately and should include a route to verification. It must not imply UKAS accreditation or wider coverage than the stated scope.
Procurement submissions
Tender use must match the buyer’s wording. If the tender requires accredited certification, the private status should be disclosed and acceptance should be confirmed.
Marketing materials
Brochures may refer to certification, but claims must not become simplified into “approved”, “accredited” or “certified for everything”.
Short claims
Short wording must still be accurate. A safe format is “Privately certified by Verity Certification against ISO 9001:2015 requirements — non-UKAS.”
Approval questionnaires
Where a form asks “UKAS accredited?”, the answer should not be “yes” unless the certificate is genuinely UKAS-accredited. Verity certificates should be described as private non-UKAS certification.
Announcements
Social posts may announce certification, but should avoid exaggerated language such as “officially ISO accredited” or “UKAS-equivalent”.
Careful use
Management-system certification must not be presented as product certification. Packaging use requires particular care and may not be permitted for some scopes.
Framework platforms
Uploaded certificates should be current, complete and not cropped. The verification details should be included where the portal allows supporting notes.
The certificate cannot be stretched beyond its scope
Scope is the boundary of the certification. If the certificate says it covers document management and office administration, it should not be used to imply certification for unrelated services such as construction, clinical services, financial advice, cyber-security operations or product manufacturing.
- Use the exact certified organisation name unless a trading-name arrangement is recorded.
- Use the exact certified standard and version shown on the certificate.
- Do not apply the certificate to unreviewed sites, departments or subsidiaries.
- Do not apply the certificate to unreviewed products, regulated activities or technical approvals.
- Ask Verity to review wording where the intended use is unclear or high-risk.
Example of scope misuse
A company is certified for “quality management system covering office administration and customer support”. It then submits the certificate as evidence that its entire construction division is ISO 9001 certified.
That would be misleading unless the construction activity was included in the assessed scope. The correct approach would be to disclose the actual scope or apply for a scope extension.
Strict rules on UKAS, IAF and accreditation claims
The clearest misuse risk is language that makes a private certificate sound accredited. Certified organisations must not use “UKAS”, “IAF”, “accredited”, “government approved”, “officially approved” or similar wording unless the statement is separately true and evidenced.
Where a buyer has asked for accredited certification, the safe wording is to state that the certificate is privately issued and non-UKAS, then ask whether equivalent evidence is acceptable.
Suggested wording for procurement use
Use wording like this where a buyer needs clarity:
“This certificate has been issued by Verity Certification as private non-UKAS certification. It is not UKAS-accredited or IAF-recognised accredited certification. It is provided as evidence of a reviewed management system for the stated scope. Please confirm whether this is acceptable for your requirement.”
This wording may feel cautious, but it protects the client and avoids misleading the buyer.
Use of Verity names, marks and certificate images
Where Verity provides a logo, badge or certificate mark, it must only be used in accordance with the certificate, scope, status and any brand instructions issued with it. No mark may be used in a way that suggests accredited certification.
Allowed
- Using an unaltered certificate copy while active.
- Showing certificate number and verification link.
- Using approved non-UKAS wording beside the mark.
- Using the mark only for the certified scope.
Not allowed
- Editing certificate dates, scope or status.
- Removing non-UKAS transparency wording.
- Placing the mark on unreviewed products.
- Using the mark after suspension, withdrawal or expiry.
Approval may be needed
- Packaging or product-related use.
- Large advertising campaigns.
- Use by a group company or subsidiary.
- Use in regulated or high-risk sectors.
Rules for certificate files and screenshots
Certificate documents should remain complete and unaltered. Cropped screenshots, low-quality images or edited PDFs can create doubt for buyers and may remove important limitations or transparency wording.
- Use the complete certificate wherever possible.
- Do not remove certificate number, scope, issue date, expiry date or non-UKAS wording.
- Do not edit, recolour or redesign the certificate.
- Do not copy the certificate into another template in a way that changes its meaning.
- Where only a screenshot is possible, include the verification details nearby.
Buyer-friendly certificate pack
For procurement use, the strongest evidence pack usually contains:
- Current certificate PDF.
- Verification register link or certificate number.
- Scope explanation in plain English.
- Non-UKAS transparency note.
- Evidence-pack or audit-summary availability note.
- Contact details for verification queries.
Rules after suspension, withdrawal or expiry
Once a certificate is no longer active, the organisation must stop using it as evidence of current certification. Historic use may remain in past records, but current websites, tenders and marketing materials should be corrected.
- Remove the certificate from websites and marketing materials.
- Stop submitting it as current certification in tenders or supplier portals.
- Remove or correct short claims in email signatures and brochures.
- Tell affected customers where a current claim has already been made and needs correction.
- Use only historic wording if reference to past certification is genuinely necessary.
How to refer to expired or past certification
Expired or withdrawn certification should not be made to look active. Where a historic reference is necessary, the wording must make the status clear.
Acceptable historic wording
“The organisation previously held private non-UKAS certification from Verity Certification for the period shown on the certificate. The certificate is no longer active.”
What happens if a certificate is misused?
Verity may act where certificate use could mislead customers, procurement teams or the public. The response will depend on the seriousness of the misuse, whether it was accidental, whether it is corrected promptly and whether any buyer has been affected.
Clarification
Verity may ask the organisation to explain how and where the certificate has been used.
Correction request
The organisation may be asked to amend wording, remove material, notify a buyer or stop using a particular claim.
Status action
Serious or repeated misuse may lead to certificate suspension, withdrawal or a status note on the register.
Record keeping
Misuse concerns, corrective actions and decisions may be recorded as part of the certification file.
What buyers can check
Buyers, customers and procurement teams should not have to rely only on a PDF. The verification record is intended to confirm the basic certificate facts and reduce the risk of outdated or altered documents being used.
- Certificate number.
- Certified organisation name.
- Standard and certificate scope.
- Issue date and expiry date.
- Current status: active, suspended, withdrawn, expired or replaced.
- Whether the certificate is privately issued and non-UKAS.
- Verification contact route for additional questions.
What buyers should not assume
A buyer should not assume that a certificate covers every part of a business, satisfies every tender clause, replaces accredited certification, or certifies product quality. The certificate must be read with its scope, status and non-UKAS transparency wording.
Check a certificateUnsure whether your claim is safe?
Certified organisations may ask Verity to review proposed certificate wording before using it in a tender, website, brochure, supplier form or customer assurance pack.
This is especially useful where a buyer has used phrases such as “accredited”, “UKAS”, “equivalent”, “approved supplier”, “mandatory requirement” or “condition of participation”.
What to include
- The proposed wording or screenshot.
- The certificate number.
- The tender or customer requirement, if relevant.
- Where the wording will be used.
- Any deadline or clarification date.
Certificate-use checklist
Before using the certificate
- Is the certificate still active?
- Does the claim match the scope?
- Is the organisation name correct?
- Are the issue and expiry dates visible?
- Is the verification route included?
Before submitting to a buyer
- Does the buyer require UKAS-accredited certification?
- Does the wording allow “or equivalent”?
- Have you disclosed non-UKAS status?
- Does the certificate scope fit the contract?
- Do you need written buyer acceptance?
Before publishing online
- Is the wording accurate and not exaggerated?
- Have you avoided “accredited” unless true?
- Is the certificate image complete?
- Is any logo use approved?
- Can a buyer verify the claim?
Need to check a certificate claim?
Send the certificate number, the wording being used and the requirement it is being used for. We can confirm certificate status and, where appropriate, explain whether the claim appears to match the scope and non-UKAS status.