TÜV Rheinland Hungary’s main concern is the safety of the people around us, whether these are our employees, customers or any other person. During these trying times, we are prioritizing our clients’ needs, requests and well-being.

This is why we are still performing audits and inspections that ensure our customers’ safety is guaranteed. Our colleagues got all the necessary protective equipment to perform the inspections safely. Also, we are taking into consideration the rules and regulations imposed by authorities due to Covid-19.

However, due to the State of Emergency declaration:

• All services rendered are limited to Hungarian territory, avoiding high-risk areas.
• Audits and inspections that required specialists from outside Hungary, they will not be postponed if clients are able to facilitate remote audits.
• All open and in house trainings will be re-scheduled.
• Solutions to offer online training opportunities to our valued customers are currently under discussion and development.

Please feel free to contact us for further information or if you have specific doubts:

General information: tuv@hu.tuv.com

Academy: akademia@hu.tuv.com

Industry:

• Personnel and system certification: gypaluska@hu.tuv.com, peter.bicsak@hu.tuv.com
• Product certification, PED: ferenc.szekely@hu.tuv.com
• Elevators: zoltan.kovacs@hu.tuv.com
• Material testing: gyorgy.auguszt@hu.tuv.com

Products:

• Hardlines and electrical products: peter.vegh@hu.tuv.com
• Commercial products: gabor.kovacs@hu.tuv.com
• Photovoltaic (PV) services (PV power plants, PV modules) and components testing services: attila.bogar@hu.tuv.com
• Medical products: szabolcs.toth@hu.tuv.com

System: rendszertanusitas@hu.tuv.com

Impact of the corona pandemic on audit, certification and surveillance measures

Even in the current situation, our primary goal is to be your reliable partner for certifications. Currently, we are working to prevent negative effects on your certification status and your business. This means that in principle we carry out all audits within the valid accreditation deadlines and originally agreed planning, unless there are circumstances that require an exception to this basic rule.

Regulations and requirements of accreditors, scheme owners and associations

TÜV Rheinland will continue to work with its customers in accordance with current possibilities until we can return to normal operations. Our actions are based on the specifications of the accreditors and scheme owners. These have already reacted and defined relevant regulations and individual specifications that TÜV Rheinland as a certification body must follow.

You will find the most important information in the following overview

• ANAB (ANSI National Accreditation Board): https://anab.ansi.org/management-systems-accreditation/heads-ups
• BRCGS (British Retail Consortium): https://www.brcgs.com/
• DAkkS (Deutsche Akkreditierungsgesellschaft): https://www.dakks.de/meldungen
• ENAC (Entidad Nacional de Acreditacion): https://www.enac.es/web/ENAC
• FSSC: https://www.fssc22000.com/news/
• IAF (International Accreditation Forum): https://www.iaf.nu/
• IAQG (International Aeropspace Quality Group): https://www.iaqg.org/oasis/login
• IATF (International Automotive Task Force): https://www.iatfglobaloversight.org/
• IFS: https://www.ifs-certification.com/index.php/en/news/newsletter-archiv
• IPAC (Instituto Portugues de Acreditacao): http://www.ipac.pt/

Important information on audits and audit postponements

• Remote audit procedures can be applied for most of the generic certification schemes such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 or ISO 27001. This means that there is no on-site auditing at your company. Our auditors work on specific parts of the audit program with your employees via Skype or Webex.
• Usually not the whole audit program can be implemented in this mode, but parts of it. Audit subjects that require an on-site visit can then be carried out at a later date.
• This leads to savings in travel costs for you and ensures that your certification program can be continued according to the rules.
• For some certification procedures (e.g. IATF 16949) remote audits are not permitted. However, there is the possibility to postpone audit due dates without having to suspend certifications.
• For some certification procedures (e.g. BRCGS) further special regulations have been defined by the accreditation bodies and scheme owners.

Rules for on-site audits

• If on-site audits cannot be carried out on time, TÜV Rheinland will decide on the basis of the information and reasons submitted by you whether it is necessary and possible to postpone your audit.
• Here we refer to the defined deadlines and regulations of the responsible accreditors.
• Please note that a valid justification from your side is absolutely necessary for a postponement (applies to certification audits as well as the first surveillance audit).
• Furthermore, it is valid that an audit postponement can only be requested in writing (also by e-mail). Please contact your TÜV Rheinland contact person for this as usual.
• Whenever and wherever possible we want to avoid audit cancellations.

Deployment of remote audits

• Some accreditation bodies allow so-called remote audits. These are very suitable for document checks and the corresponding. The current advantage is that the auditor does not have to visit you on site for the audit. The audit takes place online.
• Please note, however, that remote audits cannot replace an audit 100%. Currently, depending on the type of organisation, a maximum of 30 - 50% is possible.
• Each remote audit must be completed with an on-site audit. Here we will refer to the deadlines set by the accreditation bodies.
• Should non-conformities result in the execution of remote audits, the following applies
  • For major non-conformities identified in the remote audit, corrective action must be taken within 3 months of the last day of the remote audit or, if necessary, demonstrated during the subsequent on-site audit.
  • For minor non-conformities identified in the remote audit, the corrective action plan and corrective actions must be reviewed and accepted within 3 months of the last day of the remote audit.
• We may charge for services already executed within the scope of alternative audit procedures, such as remote units, as partial invoices.

Useful information about remote audits

• IAF defines the use of ICT (Information and communication technology) for audits/evaluations, including meetings, review of documents and records, and recording of information and evidence.
• In order to provide you with a fast and effective solution, TÜV Rheinland will limit its 'remote audits' to virtual meetings.
• The virtual meetings are conducted with "Skype for Business".
• Document exchange in real time means that all necessary documented information can be reviewed during the audit.
• A test is carried out in advance to ensure that the audit runs smoothly
• In order to ensure confidentiality, TÜV Rheinland, for its part, will select a location for the remote audit that does not allow third parties access to the customer's used data. Practical information on remote audits
• Video and audio recordings are not permitted.
• Screenshots for audit documentation are permitted after consultation with the customer.

Here you can find more information about Remote Audits & 'Skype for Business'

Contact information

We ask you to primarily contact your project coordinator if you have any questions about the further procedure.

If you have general questions, please do not hesitate to call your contact person or contact us by e-mail.

Inquiries by e-mail: rendszertan-office@hu.tuv.com