Disputes and Appeals Policy
Please provide a clear description of your appeal, objective evidence to support each element or aspect of the appeal and the name and contact information of the person submitting the appeal. All disputes and appeals received by BM TRADA are fully investigated.
Please submit all disputes and appeals in writing to:
BM TRADA Central Compliance Department, Stocking Lane, Hughenden Valley, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP14 4ND
Email: complaints@bmtrada.com
For detailed information on the BM TRADA disputes and appeals process please refer to the Disputes and Appeals Policy below:
SCOPE
This document is applicable to all BM TRADA Certification Schemes.
DISPUTES AND APPEALS
Please provide a clear description of your appeal, objective evidence to support each element or aspect of the appeal and the name and contact information of the person submitting the appeal.
All disputes and appeals received by BM TRADA are fully investigated.
If you wish to dispute a decision made by BM TRADA please go to Section A - BM TRADA Disputes Process.
If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the Dispute or Complaint resolution process and wish to raise an Appeal, please go to Section B - BM TRADA Appeals Process.
All appeals shall include objective evidence to substantiate the appeal and agreement to pay full costs related to the Appeal Committee meeting, as determined by BM TRADA and agreed by the Appeal Committee Chairman.
All disputes and appeals shall be submitted in writing to;
BM TRADA
Central Compliance Department Stocking Lane
Hughenden Valley High Wycombe Buckinghamshire HP14 4ND
t: +44 (0) 1494 569 700
complaints@bmtrada.com
SECTION A – BM TRADA DISPUTES PROCESS
A letter shall be dispatched within 2 weeks to the person/ organization, acknowledging receipt of the dispute. The Compliance Manager or a nominated person shall then perform an investigation into the dispute. (Note: the person conducting the investigation shall not have been involved in the decision making process). The investigation could include a review of the documented dispute, any related reports, consultation with applicable audit team members, and the person/organization making the dispute.
The decision related to the outcome of the full investigation shall be documented and formally communicated in writing to the person/organization who raised the dispute within two weeks of the final decision taken.
The person/organisation who raised the dispute shall be offered the right to appeal the final decision taken.
Note: For UTZ schemes BM TRADA will reply to the plaintiff within 15 working days (three weeks). If the appeal is not resolved within 20 working days (four weeks), BM TRADA will report the appeal to UTZ Certified.
SECTION B – BM TRADA APPEALS PROCESS
A letter shall be dispatched within 2 weeks to the appellant, acknowledging receipt of the appeal and confirming the appellant’s right to present their case in person to the Appeals Committee.
The appellant shall be informed of the date the appeal is to be heard and the composition of the Appeals Committee.
The appellant shall have the right to state objections to the composition of the committee. The appellant’s reasons for objection shall be considered by the Advisory Board Chairman who shall decide whether or not it is appropriate to amend the composition accordingly.
The Appeals Committee shall consider the nature of the appeal from written reports of the appellant and auditor. Where necessary, the Committee shall request the presence of the decision source during all or part of the meeting. The reports shall be studied and a recommendation to the Board of Directors made accordingly who shall make the final decision. The meeting shall be minuted.
The appellant shall be notified in writing of the outcome of the appeal, within two weeks of the decision being made and within three months of receipt of the written Appeal.
Note: For UTZ schemes BM TRADA will reply to the plaintiff within 15 working days (3 weeks). If the appeal is not resolved within 20 working days (4 weeks), BM TRADA will report the appeal to UTZ Certified.
SECTION C – FURTHER ACTION
If you are not satisfied with the action taken by BM TRADA as detailed above, you are invited to contact the relevant Accreditation Body Scheme Owner at the following address;
UKAS Accredited Schemes
UKAS
2 Pine Trees Chertsey Lane Staines-upon-Thames TW18 3HR
t: +44 (0) 1784 429015
customerfeedback@ukas.com
http://www.ukas.com
FSC® Chain of Custody Schemes
ASI
Assurance Services International GmbH
Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 69
53113 Bonn, Germany
t: +49 (228) 227 237 0
f: +49 (228) 227 237 30
asi-info@asi-assurance.org
http://www.accreditation-services.com
FSC International
Adenauerallee 134
53113 Bonn, Germany
t: +49 (0) 228 367 66 0
f: +49 (0) 228 367 66-30
info@fsc.org
UTZ Certified (Cocoa, Coffee & Tea)
UTZ Standards and Certifications Department
De Ruyterkade 6
1013 AA Amsterdam
t: +31 (0) 20 530 8000
certification@utzcertified.org
Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)
Unit A-37-1
Menara UOA Bangsar
Number 5 Jalan Bangsar Utama 1
Kuala Lumpur 59000 Malaysia
t: +603 (0) 2302 1500
membership@rspo.org / http://www.rspo.org
ANSI Accredited Schemes
1899 L Street, NW, 11th Floor
Washington, DC 20036
t: +1 202 293 8020
info@ansi.org