STAS: Soft Tissue Accreditation Scheme. PSAS: Plastic Sack Accreditation Scheme. MOPAS: Cotton Mop Accreditation Scheme. CMAS: Cleaning Chemical Accreditation Scheme. GM: General Members. ADS: Accredited Distributor Scheme
The checklist gives Accredited Distributors the information they need to ensure they conform to the Scheme requirements.
A list of all the documents relevant to Accredited members.
This document helps manufacturing members understand what to expect during an audit and how to prepare.
This document helps distributor members understand what to expect during an audit and how to prepare.
This document is the ethical marketing commitment all CHSA members must sign.
The checklist gives Accredited Manufacturers of Cleaning Chemicals the information they need to ensure they conform to the Scheme requirements.
Fact Sheet summarising the key elements of the Cleaning Chemical Accreditation Scheme.
This document summarises the requirements and scope of the ethical audit.
Fact Sheet summarising the key elements of the Cotton Mop Accreditation Scheme.
Fact Sheet summarising the key elements of the Plastic Sack Accreditation Scheme.
Fact Sheet summarising the key elements of the Soft Tissue Accreditation Scheme.
The checklist gives Accredited Manufacturers of Soft Tissue the information they need to ensure they conform to the Scheme requirements.
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.
No. To be a CHSA member there is a minimum requirement to have a UK location – a manufacturing site or warehouse – where the CHSA’s Independent Inspector can physically visit and carry out an audit of the products. It is not possible to become a CHSA member if you do not have a factory or warehouse in the UK where your products can be checked by the CHSA’s Inspector.
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.
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 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.
Yes. To be a CHSA member there is a minimum requirement to have a UK location – a manufacturing site or warehouse – where the CHSA’s Independent Inspector can physically visit and carry out an audit of the products. It is not possible to become a CHSA member if you do not have a factory or warehouse in the UK where your products can be checked by the CHSA’s Inspector.
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.
No. The basic requirements for the drop tester are set out in the Plastic Sack Accreditation Scheme Manufacturing Standard; it includes a schematic. The Standard sets out the main information required for a compliant drop test. The schematic shows one potential design of equipment in operation. There are no prescribed instructions for the Drop Test equipment design, but a fabrication company should be able to make a functional tester capable of achieving compliant results. The Standard also sets out the necessary design and construction of the 500g load weight bags. A minimum of 40 such bags are required.
A CHSA Guidance Note on Drop Testing and the Equipment can be made available to new members (and existing members) if required, following payment in full of all necessary membership invoices, to further assist and inform your design process.
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:
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.
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.
It is possible to get additional support from the CHSA. The Independent Inspector can provide briefings, training, testing etc. These are outside the normal audit process and available at an additional charge. These activities must be agreed in advance with the Inspector and administered through the CHSA.
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.
It is possible to get additional support from the CHSA. The Independent Inspector can provide help which is outside the normal audit process. This help is available at an additional charge. These activities must be agreed in advance with the Inspector and administered through the CHSA.
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.
