Route to Certification

Step 1: An Interested (Applicant) Company completes a formal Application for Certification and returns this application to the Independent Certification Body

Step 2: The Applicant Company receives a copy of the Official Standard and prepares its systems to meet the standards.

Step 3: The Applicant Company contacts the Certification Body to agree on a date for an independent Audit.

Step 4: The Applicant Company undergoes an independent assessment against each clause of the selected CQS Standard by an Auditor from the Certification Body. The auditor completes an audit report and compiles a list of non-conformances requiring corrective actions. The auditor does not give any advice on how to make the corrections, nor does the auditor give indication of how the company’s certification may progress in light of the required corrections.

Step 5: The Applicant Company carries out the necessary corrective actions and submits these actions to the Certification Body.

Step 6: The Auditor reviews the corrective actions and determines whether the evidence submitted are acceptable to “close out” the non-conformances. If the auditor deems they are not acceptable, then further evidence is required from the Applicant Company. When an auditor is satisfied that sufficient evidence has been submitted, the Certification Body convenes a Certification Committee to review the audit report and corrective actions.

Step 7: The Certification Committee has the same combined experience as the auditor, but the auditor is not a member of this Committee. On the basis of the report and corrective actions the Certification Committee will decide to either: Certify; Defer Certification pending more information; recommend Re-audit; or, decide Refusal to Certify.

Step 8: The Results of the Certification Committee are communicated to the Applicant Company. Applicant Companies failing to meet the Certification Standard can choose to reapply again.

Step 9: Certified Companies can choose to use a Certification Mark on their products and company literature

Details of the CQS Standards

The Certified Quality Salmon Program is comprised of a series of standards which may be integrated or stand alone options. Copies of the Certified Quality Salmon Standards are available to interested parties upon request.

• Fresh Water Rearing Standard - Click here to request a copy
• Salt Water Rearing Standard - Click here to request a copy
• Salmon Packing and Processing Standard - Click request a copy
• Organic Salmon Standard - Click here to request a copy
• Eco-Salmon Standard  - Click here to request a copy

The Standards are reviewed by Technical Committees and a National Accreditation Board on a continuous basis, therefore, feedback is appreciated on how the Standards and related programming may be improved. Please Click here to provide feedback on the Standards.