Important updates to ACRS Product Certification requirements – Mark of Conformity and future data submission changes

As part of ACRS's ongoing review of the Product Certification Scheme and to ensure the requirements of product end users continue to be met, the Scheme Rules are periodically updated. In recent years, we have seen significant growth in digital systems, together with an increase in the inappropriate use and misrepresentation of certified products.

To address these developments, the following change has been made to the Scheme Rules, effective immediately. All certificate holders are obliged to comply with the Scheme Rules, including these updates. Please contact us if you have any queries or issues pertaining to these changes or any other matter regarding certification.

This communication applies to all active ACRS Product Certification and Technical Approval certificates.

Relevant resources:

• ACRS Product Certification Scheme Rules Version 12.2
• Using Your ACRS Mark of Conformity

1. Mandatory Use of the ACRS Mark of Conformity

As part of the release of ACRS Product Certification Scheme Rules Version 12.2, the requirements relating to the use of the ACRS Mark of Conformity have been updated.

Certified firms holding Product Certification or Technical Approval Certification are now required to display the ACRS Mark of Conformity on product identification associated with certified products, including product tags, labels and other approved identification methods. Firms may also choose to include the ACRS Validation QR Code.

If you have already implemented the updated Mark of Conformity and Validation QR Code, thank you.

Historically, certified firms have used a variety of approaches to identify ACRS certification on product tags, including certificate numbers, ACRS logos and other certification references. Under the updated rules, use of the ACRS Mark of Conformity is now mandatory.

ACRS strongly encourages certified firms to implement the Mark together with the ACRS Validation QR Code.

The Validation QR Code enables customers, specifiers, regulators and purchasers to immediately verify the validity and scope of certification using the ACRS Cloud App. This supports improved traceability, greater confidence in certified products and protection against fraudulent use of certification claims.

Why this change?

The update has been introduced to:

• Improve identification of certified products in the marketplace
• Strengthen confidence in ACRS certification
• Improve traceability and verification of certified products
• Protect the integrity of certificate holders and reduce the potential for misuse or misrepresentation of certification claims

What should certified firms do?

Certified firms should review their current product tags, labels and identification methods to ensure they meet the updated requirements.

ACRS has prepared guidance material titled Using Your ACRS Mark of Conformity to assist firms with implementation.

2. Future Changes to Production Data Submission

ACRS also wishes to provide advance notice that new methods for submitting production data, including chemistry and production test results, will be progressively introduced through ACRS Cloud.

These changes are intended to improve efficiency, reduce administrative burden and increase the accuracy of data submission by mills and processors.

Further information and implementation details will be provided to affected certificate holders as the rollout progresses.

Questions and support:

If you have any questions regarding the updated requirements, implementation of the ACRS Mark of Conformity, or future production data submission arrangements, please contact us directly.