This Technical Bulletin is applicable to all certification bodies delivering ISO 19443:2018 Nuclear Supply Chain Quality Management System (NSC-QMS).
Following the publication of ISO/TS 23406:2024, this bulletin has been produced to update certification bodies and stakeholders on the UKAS assessment process and overall timelines for assessment and transition to the revised standard.
Compared with the previous version of ISO/TS 23406:2020, the main changes in the revised edition include:
- 5.1 additional requirements concerning the certification contract
- 7.1.3 clarification of the renewal of the qualification of auditors
- 8.1 new requirements on documents to be made available
- 8.2 clarification of the content of the certificate
- 8.4 and §8.5 additional requirements
- 9.1.4 rewrite and clarification
- 9.1.5 new method and clarification for calculating multi-site organisations
- 9.1.7 new requirements for an organisation that does not provide important to nuclear safety (ITNS) product or services at the time of the initial audit
- 9.4 rewrite and clarification of the time limits for processing nonconformities
- 9.6.4.3 new requirements for the monitoring and renewal of an organisation without ITNS activity
UKAS has developed a transition plan to support a consistent approach within defined timescales and will be ready to assess against the requirements of the revised standard from 01 April 2025. To enable the transition to progress in a timely manner, UKAS accredited certification bodies are required to submit a gap analysis and supporting evidence of changes made to their management systems, confirming understanding and implementation of the revised requirements of ISO/TS 23406:2024 by 31 March 2025. The submission shall also include evidence of the training and authorisation of relevant personnel.
Assessment activity will take place as soon as practicable following submission of the requested information as above, and by no later than 01 November 2025. This will allow certification bodies time to address potential mandatory improvement actions, to complete additional assessment activity (as required), and for UKAS to complete the decision-making process prior to the 01 February 2026 transition deadline. As with any transition, failure to meet the above milestones and complete the transition by the deadline may put accreditation for the relevant scope at risk.
The changes made to ISO/TS 23406:2024 predominantly focus on the CABs management system with little or no impact on certified organisations with exception:
- 5.1 the client is required to notify the certification body of new ITNS or discontinuity of ITNS supply
- 8.1 requires the certification body to make publicly available certification information in agreement with the client as defined in §8.4
- 9.6.4.3 certification may be maintained for a client with no ITNS activity subject to the client notifying the certification body of restarted ITNS
From the nature of change introduced by ISO/TS 23406:2024, it is estimated that 1.5 days of effort will be required to technically assess the evidence submitted, via an 0.75 day desktop assessment followed by an 0.5 day office assessment of implementation, and to complete the required back-office activities. If the desktop assessment is unable to verify the effective process update to address the requirements of the revised standard, then the office assessment effort may need to be increased. If areas are identified that do not adequately fulfil the revised requirements, then these will be raised as mandatory improvement actions, and these shall be addressed in the normal way.
Timeline:
| Date | Milestone activity |
|---|---|
| 01 February 2025 | Certification bodies to submit gap analysis and supporting evidence before 01 April 2025 |
| 01 April 2025 | UKAS ready to assess against the new requirements |
| 01 May 2025 | All desktop assessment activity to be completed |
| 01 June 2025 onwards | Decision and grant of transitioned accreditation made on an individual basis and subject to the CABs readiness |
| 01 February 2026 | All UKAS transitions of certification bodies completed |
Should you require any clarification on the above, please contact your Assessment Manager in the first instance. In the absence of your Assessment Manager, one of the following may be able to assist:
- Richard McFarlane, Head of Technical Coordination – [email protected]
- Alan Webb, Accreditation Specialist – Development – [email protected]
Download this Technical Bulletin as a pdf here.