Become a member
All members have signed our Code of Practice, committing to high standards in the conduct of their businesses.
We welcome applications from manufacturers and distributors in the cleaning and hygiene industry.
Before applying for membership, please check that you have read and understood the criteria below:
- Applications can only be accepted from a UK registered company, currently operating in the Away From Home market.
- Provision of two satisfactory references. These should ideally be two CHSA members or if that is not possible, then two businesses from within the cleaning and hygiene sector that we can approach for a reference.
- Nomination by a current CHSA member. The sponsor can also be one of the two referees if they are a CHSA member. If a company cannot obtain a sponsor, the Chairman can act as their sponsor and referee if he/she feels it appropriate.
- Evidence of business systems and processes through certification. This involves evidence of compliance with standards including ISO 9001 or ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 where relevant. It includes evidence of compliance with regulations such as the Detergent Regulations and the Classification, Labelling and Packaging regulation, where relevant. It includes evidence for efficacy claims where relevant.
- All CHSA members must sign our Commitment to Ethical Marketing. It states marketing claims for products made or sold must be substantiated and appropriate test data provided where applicable, which may be independently or peer reviewed. Valid test data should be from an approved UK or EU accredited laboratory.
- All CHSA manufacturing members must comply with the 2-pillar SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit), or a UK equivalent.
- Applicants must have a UK warehouse or base where stock can be physically inspected, both during the initial audit and to ensure ongoing compliance, should the application be successful.
- Multiple audits will take place during the first year of membership to ensure compliance with the relevant Standard and Code of Practice.
- If a membership application lapses and is not approved within six months of applying due to delays from the applicant, CHSA reserve the right to terminate the process. If the decision is taken to end the application process, 14 days notice will be given. The application fee is not refundable and no application from the same business will be considered within a period of 12 months from the termination date.
Please note:
- A non-refundable payment of £500 + VAT is required at the time of submitting a membership application . Our bank details are on the bottom of the application form.
- All new applications progressing to the audit stage are subject to a non-refundable audit fee. The costs range from £250 + VAT to £745 + VAT, depending on the Scheme.
- As part of our initial due diligence background checks early in the process we are likely to review marketing and product claims on the business' website or elsewhere online. This might include the availability of test data or evidence that is available to substantiate claims made, for chemical products in particular, but not exclusively.
- Accreditation is given to the Schemes applied for and must not be used or referred to in a way that could be misleading in relation to non-Scheme products.
- For Plastic Sack Accreditation Scheme applications, it is a requirement to have installed an approved drop tester as specified in the Scheme Standard before the initial audit can take place as part of the application process. Should you wish to purchase this piece of equipment from the CHSA, please let us know at the time of your application and we will advise on pricing.
- Information provided will be verified through Companies House or Dun & Bradstreet searches as part of our due diligence process.
- Detailed product stock lists will be required by our Independent Inspector. A physical audit carried out by the Independent Inspector is a condition of the application process. Failure to provide access could prevent an application from being taken forward.
- If an application is declined, no applications from the same business will be considered within 12 months.
- Requests to change the name of the member company must be approved by Council and will not be considered during the first year of membership. Failure to advise of a name change may result in termination of membership.
To apply, select the membership type that suits your business. Complete the application form and return with the documentation requested, accompanied by the application fee.
We will conduct our background checks and contact you for more information if necessary. We will take up the references and nomination for membership with the names that have been provided. Any queries or concerns will be reviewed by a membership team before the application is taken to CHSA Council for consideration. If the application is approved to progress to the audit stage, we will invoice you for the audit fee and annual membership and provide the detailed Scheme documentation.
When the invoice has been paid, the Independent Inspector will arrange the audit with you directly. We will also request a product stock list and test certificates depending on the Scheme . If the audit is not successful, the reasons will be given and your membership cost refunded less the audit fee. If the application is successful, we will inform the Scheme members that you will be joining. A membership certificate will be sent to you together with a marketing pack and a warm welcome to CHSA.
Membership
Manufacturer
Open to companies that manufacture or act as exclusive agents for a manufacturer supplying the UK away from home cleaning and hygiene products, materials and / or equipment market.
Please click below to email a request for an application form and details about the application process.
Membership
Distributor
Open to distributors supplying the UK away from home cleaning and hygiene products, materials and / or equipment market.
Please click below to email a request for an application form and details about the application process.
FAQs
Membership of the CHSA signals to your customers that you trade ethically and sustainably, provide quality fit for purpose products and make sure what’s on the box is what’s in the box. Your customers can trust the CHSA Accreditation Scheme mark. Our standards, your guarantee.
There is no specific timetable, but three to six months is usual. Three months is generally the quickest, providing there are no delays in the application process. To avoid delays, we suggest you:
- ensure we receive a swift response to the reference requests;
- pay promptly on receipt of the invoice for the initial audit and first year membership fee;
- arrange the audit visit promptly when contacted direct by the Independent Inspector; and
- respond quickly with satisfactory answers to queries that might be raised by the Inspector during that initial audit.
If, because the applicant is unable to progress or does not respond promptly to communication from the CHSA, the application has not concluded within six months from the date the application form and non-refundable application fee were received, the application can be terminated by the CHSA. No application from the same business will be considered within 12 months of the termination date.
No. Members are encouraged to use the logo of the Accreditation Scheme of which they are a member on marketing materials. The Association logo is for the use of Association only.
No. Accredited Manufacturers can put the relevant Accreditation Scheme logo only on the products within the scope of the Accreditation Scheme of which they are a member.
Accredited Distributors may have the relevant Accredited Manufacturing Scheme logo on products within the scope of that Accredited Manufacturer Scheme if the product is sourced from an Accredited Manufacturer that is a member of the said Scheme. Accredited Manufacturer Scheme logos may not be placed on products manufactured by non-members.
Accredited Distributors may not put the logo for the Accredited Distributor Scheme on any products.
Yes. Members are encouraged to use the Accreditation Scheme logo for the Scheme of which they are a member on their documentation and marketing collateral.
No. Members are not permitted to alter the CHSA Accreditation Scheme logos. Only the versions provided by the CHSA are permitted. This means the logo can be in the CHSA’s brand colours or black and white.
In Scope are those within the remit of one or more of the CHSA’s Accredited Manufacturer Schemes
- Soft Tissue (e.g. hygiene rolls, hand towels, toilet tissue, paper napkins)
- Plastic Sacks (e.g. refuse sacks, compactor sacks, Fit for Purpose (FFP) rated products, LINs and OTH)
- Cotton Mops (≥70% cotton, CHSA standard and non-standard weights)
- Cleaning Chemicals (e.g. sanitisers, wipes, biocides and other liquids for professional use)
If in doubt if the product is in scope, please ask the Independent Inspector.
You can buy product from any manufacturer. However, product that falls within the scope of a CHSA Manufacturing Accreditation Scheme, whether purchased from a CHSA Accredited Manufacturer or not, must comply with the relevant Accreditation Scheme Technical Regulations and Standard. It is the responsibility of the Accredited Distributor to ensure compliance. If such products are not purchased from a CHSA Accredited Manufacturer, the ADS member must ensure that the appropriate controls and monitoring are implemented as described in the guidance notes available upon request.
If there are any issues the Independent Inspector will explain the findings. If you still have concerns you may provide comments or context. If you would like these to be included in the Inspector’s summary report to the CHSA Scheme Chair, please return them within five working days. The intention is that the audit be a collaborative process.
The Independent Inspector visits many members, based all over the country, each year to complete the audits. To maximise efficiency and minimise travel, the audit visits are arranged geographically. This limits our flexibility.
The ADS Compliance Checklist, available on the resources page of the CHSA website, provides answers for ADS members, whether sourcing their biocidal products from a CHSA CMAS member or from a third-party non-member. Please contact the Secretary or Scheme Chair directly if you require further information.
Yes. If you manufacture cleaning hygiene products with Biocidal efficacy claims, you need to possess EN Test pass reports, from a testing laboratory that meets the requirements of EN ISO/IEC 17025, UKAS or equivalent in the UK or Europe and is licenced to undertake the relevant biocidal efficacy tests claimed.
If you manufacture cleaning hygiene products with Biocidal efficacy claims, you need to possess EN Test pass reports, from a testing laboratory that meets the requirements of EN ISO/IEC 17025, UKAS or equivalent in the UK or Europe and is licenced to undertake the relevant biocidal efficacy tests claimed.
CMAS members are obliged to provide full visibility of biocidal test data to support any biocidal declarations directly related to specific products, at the time of a CHSA audit to the Independent Inspector, to validate such claims and ensure ongoing compliance.
If you manufacture Biocides, your products must comply with the appropriate Biocides regulations supply in use, BPR, or you must provide a timeline for complying.
Please provide a password-protected Excel file listing all products in scope and send the password separately. This ensures the Inspector can process your list quickly and securely. Please include all products within the remit of the CHSA four Manufacturing Accreditation Schemes (including ‘retail’ items and any others you are unsure about — if in doubt, include it). As a minimum the file must include columns titled Product Name, Supplier Name, Bin Location (if used), Quantity in Stock. An example file can be provided by the Independent Inspector upon request. You may add other columns if useful.
The stock list allows the Independent Inspector to conduct a pre-audit review before the visit. This identifies In Scope vs Out of Scope and Products of Interest vs No Action Required. This narrows your full range to a smaller list for focused inspection on the day.
To maintain confidentiality, before returning the annotated list to you, the Inspector will remove Supplier Name and Supplier Reference columns to anonymise the data. The annotated list may also include an indication of what action the Inspector is likely to take by Product, although this may change following visual inspection on the day.
Please contact the CHSA Secretariat or the Independent Inspector if you require additional support.
CHSA Secretariat: secretary@chsa.co.uk
Inspector Support: inspector@chsa.co.uk