Fraud Risk Control in CertifHy EU Voluntary Scheme

Protecting RFNBO Certification Integrity and Transparency

CertifHy is dedicated to protecting against fraud and ensuring transparency throughout the certification procedure and its ongoing maintenance. Our comprehensive approach unites robust risk management, risk-based audits, practical quality assurance, and public reporting to build trust and integrity for all stakeholders, including Economic Operators, Certification Bodies, and the CertifHy scheme operator.

Rigorous Risk Management and Auditing

• Risk-Based Audits: Every Economic Operator undergoes a risk assessment guiding audit frequency and depth. Higher risk leads to more intensive reviews, including random sampling of documents and on-site inspections.
• Optional Precertification: Economic Operators and auditors may participate in a precertification process. This optional step serves as a real-world test of auditor competence and understanding, helping CertifHy identify and address gaps before full certification.
• Dynamic Audit Planning: Prior audit outcomes, and record quality inform future audit strategies and risk ratings.

Quality Assurance Through Certification Bodies

• Formal Certification Bodies Assessment: We use a structured checklist, based on scheme requirements, to assess and select the Certification Bodies we work with, ensuring only qualified partners may certify Economic Operators.
• Auditor Training: All auditors complete an initial training before conducting audits, and participate in yearly update trainings that cover the latest regulatory changes, interpretations, and practical lessons.
• Auditor Oversight: Auditors are rotated, and the same auditor will not certify the same Economic Operator for more than three consecutive years, reducing bias and complacency.
• Witness Audits: CertifHy may conduct witness audits, accompanying CBs during audits to verify quality standards.

Documentation, Traceability, and Transparency

• Complete and Secure Records: Economic Operators must maintain accurate, up-to-date, and accessible records for all certified activities, including mass balance and chain of custody.
• Public Reporting: Every certificate and summary audit report is published on the CertifHy website, enabling all stakeholders to verify sustainability claims.
• Sample-Based Audit Review: CertifHy regularly reviews samples of audit reports from Certification Bodies to ensure audit quality and detect issues early.

Stakeholder Engagement and Continuous Improvement

• Whistleblowing and Grievances: Anyone can confidentially report suspected fraud or non-conformity. Substantiated reports can trigger targeted audits or corrective action.
• Corrective Action and Sanctions: Non-conformity or fraud may result in corrective plans, certificate suspension or withdrawal, and higher risk classification for future audits.
• Continuous Learning: Regular feedback from Economic Operators, Certification Bodies, and stakeholders informs updated training, improved procedures, and evolving scheme documents.

Commitment to Integrity

CertifHy’s multi-layered approach, combining procedural rigour, proactive oversight, and public transparency, minimises fraud risk and upholds the integrity of certified products and scheme participants.

Want to know more?

Browse our published certificates, audit summaries, and scheme documents, or contact us with questions about CertifHy’s fraud prevention and quality assurance measures.