On July 31, 2020 IOAS took the decision to suspend Istituto per la Certificazione Etica e Ambientale (ICEA) of Italy’s accreditations for the Global Organic Textile Standard and Textile Exchange schemes and this suspension became effective on August 11, 2020. ICEA has been invited to take corrective actions to lift the suspension.
Whilst the suspension is in effect ICEA is not permitted to accept new applications or extend the scope of certificates but is required to maintain surveillance on existing certificate holders.
ICEA operators in possession of a valid certificate under either scheme on 11 August 2020 continue to be recognized as accredited certifications and may continue to trade product under accredited certificates and, where relevant to the scheme, the CB may issue transaction certificates unless the scheme owner determines otherwise. No certificates may be issued by the certification body to new applicants or extensions of scope permitted to existing operators whilst it remains suspended.
Any operations, certification bodies and authorities that relied on these accreditations are asked to take note.
