Board of Experts regulations

1. General

1.1. In order to obtain adequate public support for certification IHMQ makes

use of a Policy Board (the Board of Trustees will act as such until an other board of experts is installed) and a number of Boards of Experts.[1] In this Board the parties having an interest in certification (‘the interested parties’) can be represented, including

customers
suppliers
independent experts

Explanation: depending on the certification scheme the interested parties will play different roles, e.g.

Occupational health and safety management certification: employees (customers) - employers (suppliers);
Personal certification: employers (customers) - employees (suppliers).

1.2. If Boards of Experts have been set up by IHMQ itself in consultation with the interested parties, IHMQ will - in consultation with these Boards - determine their field of activity. The duties and competencies, composition, terms of office and procedures of these Boards are laid down in articles 2 to 6.

2. Duties and competencies

2.1. The duty of a Board of Experts is to advise IHMQ on the certification scheme, with regard to at least the following aspects:

nature and content of the certification scheme;
the requirements (evaluation guidelines, system demands, professional skill demands) and investigation methods to be used, in conformity with the procedure described in the appendix;
frequency, nature and place of audits;
the qualification demands to be made on the certification personnel;
the use and meaning of the certificate;
the use and meaning of the marks to be used in connection with the certificate.

2.2. In addition, the duties of a Board of Experts shall be to guide the functioning of the certification scheme on the basis of annual reports prepared by IHMQ in respect of the activities performed.

2.3. A Board of Experts shall be authorised to advise IHMQ, both at the latters’ request and on its own initiative, within its own field of activity. The Board may give binding advice. IHMQ shall submit any advice on the policies to be conducted by it to the Board of Trustees.

2.4. The chairman of a Board of Experts or his deputy shall be a member of the Disputes Committee as referred to in the Regulations for the Disputes Committee if an appeal is lodged against a decision or measure taken by IHMQ within the field of activity of the Board.

3. Composition

3.1. A Board of Experts shall be composed of representatives from the interested parties in the relevant sector.

3.2. IHMQ shall appoint an independent chairman, a deputy-chairman and the other members of a Board of Experts.

3.3. IHMQ shall be responsible for the secretariat of a Board of Experts.

3.4. A Board of Experts may invite experts in a particular field to attend one or more of its meetings. These persons shall have an advisory position.

3.5. The managers of the certification units of IHMQ or the employees appointed by them shall be advisory members.

4. Term of office

4.1. The chairman and members appointed in a personal capacity shall be appointed for a term of office of four years. They may be re-appointed for a period of the same duration.

4.2. The members appointed on the recommendation of an interested party shall hold office for as long as they are deemed to represent the party in question.

4.3. IHMQ shall consult the interested parties on the filling of any vacancies.

5. Procedure

5.1. A Board of Experts shall meet as often as may be necessary for the Board to function properly, but at least once a year.

5.2. Each board shall aim at reaching a consensus on the advice to be given. If no consensus can be reached, the chairman may decide that a decision may be reached by a majority of votes. In doing so, account shall be taken of equality of the voting proportions of the interested parties. IHMQ officials attending the meeting, the secretary and advisers shall have no voting right. If there is a tie in voting, the matter shall be decided by the chairman or his deputy.

5.3. For the remaining part, each Board of Experts shall determine its own procedure whilst duly observing the provisions contained in the Regulations.

6. Committees

6.1. On the recommendation of a Board of Experts IHMQ may set up committees. The composition, duties and procedures of these committees shall be laid down in writing in consultation with each Board of Experts