The BOSS Federation has long championed the benefits of implementing best practice in all areas of the business as a way of reducing waste and production costs. Companies working to the ISO12647-2 Colour Quality Management Certification Scheme are already realising these benefits. However, the BOSS Federation has been pushing UKAS to recognise the Scheme Requirements booklet by accrediting certification bodies so that they are able to audit companies against this scheme and as such offer them a fully independent certificate. This certificate can then be used as a way of proving to customers and buyers the companies’ ability to consistently produce work to a set of targeted high levels.

The BOSS Federation is happy to announce that companies will soon be able to obtain fully independent ISO12647-2 certification by a UKAS accredited body that recognises this Colour Management excellence. Print and Media Certification Ltd, the print specialist certification body, is now in the final stages of the UKAS accreditation process for the ISO 12647-2 certification scheme. Accredited certification will mean that companies will not only be able to gain the benefits of implementing the best practice, but will also be able to provide their clients with the same accredited independent and third party certification which has become so important with Quality (9001) and Environment (14001).

The certification is achieved through audits against The BOSS Federation (British Printing Industries Federation) ISO 12647-2 certification scheme requirements, published in February 2010. Due to the highly specialised nature of the scheme, certification bodies have to demonstrate that their auditors are competent to understand their customers’ processes fully, and that they are completely impartial. The initial audits combine an audit of the organisation’s colour quality and production management system and an audit test of sample product for each press within the scope of the certification. Once certified, organisations will need to continue to demonstrate product conformity through their own testing of products and will be subject to on-going annual audits.

Accreditation is carried out by National Accreditation Bodies such as UKAS in the UK (www.ukas.com) and is awarded to certification bodies for providing certification for customers in particular industry sectors. To become accredited, certification bodies have to demonstrate that they are competent, impartial and independent in their certification work and meet the relevant requirements of the international standard which applies for that certification. Certifications issued by accredited certification bodies also have full international recognition.