DECLARATION OF IMPARTIALITY

ARS must have processes in place to identify, analyze, evaluate, deal with, monitor and document the possibilities of conflict of interest and the risk related to conflict of interest arising from the provision of the certification, including any conflicts arising from its relationships on an ongoing basis. However, should any activity or relationship create a threat to impartiality, ARS must document and eliminate or minimize such threats / risks and also document any residual risks. ARS must document, analyze and minimize or eliminate such threats which include:

If the risk is present within ARS;
If the risk arises from the activities of other people, entities or organizations.

ARS’s senior management examines all residual risk to determine if it falls within the acceptable risk level.

ARS’s risk assessment process includes identifying and consulting with appropriate stakeholders, advising on issues that impact certification trust, including impartiality, openness and public perception. Consultation with the appropriate stakeholders must be balanced with no single predominating.

During the risk assessment, ARS identifies and consults stakeholders to receive advice on issues affecting trust in certification, openness to impartiality and public perception: these stakeholders may include ARS representatives, Certified Customers, Consumer Certified Organizations, Industry Trade Association Representatives, Representative of Government Regulatory Bodies or Government Services, Representative of NGOs, Consumer Organization, Environmental Specialists, Food Industry Specialists, Health Security Specialists, Information Security Specialists, Healthcare Specialists .

Relationships that threaten ARS’s impartiality may be based on ownership, governance, management, personnel, shared resources, finances, contracts, training, marketing, and paying a sales commission or other incentive to refer new customers, etc. ARS must continually evaluate its relationship with any other organization that may affect its impartiality.

ARS will make this information available to the expert committee.