The Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA) is adding to its three Manufacturing Standards Accreditation Schemes with the launch of a new Accreditation Scheme for Distributors.

The Scheme went live on 1 January 2017, all distributor members of the CHSA being invited to apply to join.

“Our focus is always on driving up standards in the industry; our existing Manufacturing Standards Accreditation Schemes widely recognized as already having done so,” explained Mike Stubbs, Chairman of the Accreditation Scheme Panels and Vice President of the CHSA. “The increasing number of buyers of cleaning and hygiene products specifying our Schemes in their tenders provides evidence for this.

“Establishing an Accreditation Scheme for distributors is a natural next step. We’re delighted to be able to give our distributor members the opportunity to apply for a marque that will signal their commitment to supplying product that can be relied upon to meet the Scheme Standards and the CHSA Code of Practice.”

As with the Manufacturing Standards Accreditation Scheme, applicants will be admitted to the Scheme on the successful completion of an auditing process conducted by the CHSA’s Independent Inspector, Martin Yates. Once they have successfully passed the audit and secured Accreditation Scheme status they will continue to be monitored periodically with a minimum of two audits each year, giving buyers of their products the certainty that standards are sustained.

To join, distributors must also sign a declaration that they will only stock and offer for sale CHSA Accredited products or products that conform to the same Standards as required by the relevant CHSA Manufacturing Standards Accreditation Scheme.