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AWSStandardDevelopmentProcedureDraft1-2
AWSStandardsDevelopmentProcedure
Version1.0
Nov2016
ALLIANCEFORWATERSTEWARDSHIP(SCIO)
EdinburghCentreforCarbonInnovation(ECCI),HighSchoolYards,InfirmaryStreet,EdinburghEHI1LZ,ScotlandTEL:+44(0)1316514690|EMAIL:[email protected]
AWSisregisteredasaScottishCharitableIncorporatedOrganisation(SC045894
AWSStandardSystemDevelopmentProcedure
Contents Purpose ....................................................................................................................... 4
Responsibility for these Requirements ........................................................................ 4
AWS Standard System ................................................................................................ 5
AWS Standard Framework .......................................................................................... 5
A Introduction ........................................................................................................... 7
B Scope .................................................................................................................... 9
C Normative References .......................................................................................... 9
D Associated Guidance ............................................................................................ 9
E Terms and Definitions ........................................................................................... 9
1 GENERALPROVISIONS........................................................................................................10
2 STANDARDSDEVELOPMENT...............................................................................................10
3 STRUCTUREANDCONTENT................................................................................................17
ALLIANCE FOR WATER STEWARDSHIP (SCIO)
Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI), High School Yards, Infirmary Street, Edinburgh EHI 1LZ, Scotland TEL: +44 (0)131 651 4690 | EMAIL: [email protected]
AWS is registered as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SC045894)
PURPOSE
Thisdocumentsetsouttheprocedurefordevelopment,reviewandrevisionoftheAWSStandardandtheassociatedCertificationandInterimAccreditationRequirements.Itincludesthestructureandcontentofthestandardalongwiththerationaleforthresholdsofcompliance.
ThisdocumentisanormativereferencewhichwillbeusedalongsideothernormativeAWSdocumentstoassignresponsibilities,manageprocessesandsetdeadlinesforthetimelyandeffectivedevelopment,reviewandrevisionoftheAWsStandardSystem.Thisprocedureisintendedtoinformtheprocessofdevelopment,reviewandrevision,ratherthansetoutindetailhere.SuchprocesseswillbeformulatedandagreedbytheAWSTechnicalCommittee.
RESPONSIBILITYFORTHESEREQUIREMENTS
TheAWSTechnicalCommitteeisthebodyresponsiblefortheAWSStandardsDevelopmentProcedure.TheTechnicalCommitteewillreviewthecontentsofthisdocumentonanongoingbasis.Arecordofamendmentsisshownbelow.
AmendmentRecordVersionNo. DateofPublication DescriptionofAmendmentDraft1.3 Sept2016 PostTCComments
Draft1.4 Oct2016 BoardCommentsintegratedVersion1.0 Nov2016 Approved
ALLIANCE FOR WATER STEWARDSHIP (SCIO)
Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI), High School Yards, Infirmary Street, Edinburgh EHI 1LZ, Scotland TEL: +44 (0)131 651 4690 | EMAIL: [email protected]
AWS is registered as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SC045894)
AWSSTANDARDSYSTEM
AWSisthestandardssystemownerandkeeperofTheAWSInternationalWaterStewardshipStandard(“theAWSStandard”).Assuch,AWSisresponsibleforimplementationoftheAWSStandard,includingstandardsdevelopment,capacitybuilding,assurance,labellingandmonitoring.Toachievethesegoals,AWShasstructureditsstandardssystemintothreeprograms:verificationprogram,training&capacity-buildingprogram,andmembershipprogram(Figure1).Thesethreeprogramsarecomplementary.TheyservetoreinforceoneanothertoensurethattheAWSStandardSystemprovidesacredibleandrobustimplementationoftheAWSStandard.
Figure1.DiagramoftheAWSStandardSystem.
AWSStandardSystem
VerificationProgram
Training&CapacityBuildingProgram
MembershipProgram
AWSSTANDARDFRAMEWORK
TheAWSStandardSystemisrootedinfournormativedocumentswhich,together,comprisetheAWS‘StandardFramework’.ThescopeandinterrelationshipofthesenormativedocumentsisshowninTable1.
Table1.InterrelationofthefournormativedocumentsoftheAWSstandardsframework.
NormativeDocument Purpose ProgramPrimaryTarget
Audience
AWSStandard SetstheStandardAWSVerification
ProgramImplementers
CABs
AWSSelf-VerificationRequirements
Setstheprocessfor
self-verification
AWSVerificationProgram Implementers
AWSCertificationRequirements
Setstheprocessforcertification
AWSVerificationProgram
CABs
AWSorAB
ALLIANCE FOR WATER STEWARDSHIP (SCIO)
Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI), High School Yards, Infirmary Street, Edinburgh EHI 1LZ, Scotland TEL: +44 (0)131 651 4690 | EMAIL: [email protected]
AWS is registered as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SC045894)
AWSInterimAccreditationRequirements
Setsthecriteriaandtheprocessforaccreditation
AWSInterimAccreditationProgram
AWSVerificationProgram
&
AWSTraining&CapacityBuildingProgram
CABs
Trainers
Consultants
FirstandforemostisTheAWSInternationalWaterStewardshipStandardwhichlaysthefoundationoftheAWSStandardSystembyestablishingtheactions,criteriaandindicatorsforhowsitesshouldmanagewateratthesitelevelandhowwatershouldbestewardedbeyondtheboundariesofthesite.Thisisanormativedocumentwhichisapplicable,onavoluntarybasis,toanysitewishingtodemonstrateitsconformitywiththeAWSStandard.
ThesecondnormativedocumentoftheAWSstandardframeworkistheAWSSelf-VerificationRequirements.Thisdocumentdescribesthemandatoryrequirementsfortheprocessesofself-verificationwhicharetobefollowedbyimplementers.
ThethirdnormativedocumentoftheAWSstandardframeworkistheAWSCertificationRequirements(i.e.thisdocument).ItdescribesthemandatoryrequirementsforcertificationwhicharetobefollowedbyCABs.
TheAWSInterimAccreditationRequirementsisthefourthnormativedocumentoftheAWSstandardframework.ItsetsoutthemandatorycriteriathatAWS(oraccreditationbody)willusetoevaluatethecompetencyofAWSserviceproviders(CABs,trainersandconsultants).Scopeisthereforeapplicableattwoprogramlevels-verificationandtraining&capacity-building.
AWSmayproduceadditionalnormativedocumentsinsupportofprogram-levelobjectives.Suchobjectivesmayincludeestablishingrulesandrequirementsformembership,brandingandclaims,training,capacity-building,andrelatedtopics.
Inadditiontonormativedocuments,AWSmayalsoproduceguidancedocumentsfromtimetotime.Thepurposeofguidanceistohelpimplementers,serviceproviders,andstakeholderstobetterunderstandAWSrequirementsandhowtoimplementthemeffectively.Forexample,AWSintendstoproduceaguidancedocumententitledAWSVerificationSystemwhichprovidesanoverviewofhowallthedifferentelementsoftheAWSVerificationPrograminteracttodeliveracredibleassurancetostakeholdersonAWSclaims.
ALLIANCE FOR WATER STEWARDSHIP (SCIO)
Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI), High School Yards, Infirmary Street, Edinburgh EHI 1LZ, Scotland TEL: +44 (0)131 651 4690 | EMAIL: [email protected]
AWS is registered as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SC045894)
Fig.2LifeCycleoftheStandard
A INTRODUCTION
TheAllianceforWaterStewardship(AWS)isaglobal,non-profitorganizationdedicatedtoadvancingwaterstewardshiparoundtheworld.Aspartofthismission,AWSdevelopedTheAWSInternationalWaterStewardshipStandard.TheAWSStandardwastheresultofaninternational,four-year,ISEALcompliant,multi-stakeholderprocesswhichrespondedtothegrowingneedforevidenceofrobustwaterriskandimpactmitigationefforts.Itisbuiltaroundthenotionofimplementingwaterstewardshipatthesitelevelinawaythatunderstandsandengageswiththebroadercatchmenttoworkwithotherwaterstakeholderstoaddresssharedwater-relatedchallengesandopportunities.
TCProposaltoDevelopStandard
TCDevelop1stDraft
1stPublicConsultation
TCDevelop2ndDraft
2ndPublicConsultation
TCDevelopFinalDraft.
MemberApproval
AWSStandard
TCReview
ReviewConsultation
ALLIANCE FOR WATER STEWARDSHIP (SCIO)
Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI), High School Yards, Infirmary Street, Edinburgh EHI 1LZ, Scotland TEL: +44 (0)131 651 4690 | EMAIL: [email protected]
AWS is registered as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SC045894)
AWShasdevelopedaverificationsystemforimplementingtheAWSStandardwhichisconsistentwiththeISEALAssuranceCode,providingconsistency,rigour,competence,impartiality,transparency,andaccessibility.AcentralfeatureoftheAWSStandardSystemistheroleofindependentcertificationbythird-partyConformityAssessmentBodies(CABs).
AWSwillimplementtheAWSStandardSystemintwophases:aninitialphasewillbeusedworkoutanykinksandensurecapacityissufficienttomeetsystemneeds.Forthesecondphase(Phase2:2017+),AWSwillupdatetheAWSStandardSystemandaddimprovedfunctionalitypendingAWSmemberinput.ThroughoutPhase1,AWSwillitselfruntheaccreditationprogram.Thistimewillbeusedtogainexperiencewiththesystemandexaminethepotentialoftransferringtheaccreditationfunctiontoanindependentaccreditationbody.Therefore,thepresentdocumentreferstotheAWSaccreditationfunctionasan‘interim’arrangement.
AsanISEALmember,AWSiscommittedtoanequitable,openandtransparentapproachtodevelopingitsstandard.Accordingly,theAWSStandardSystemfollowsISEAL’sStandardSetting,Assurance,andImpactsCodes.TheAWSStandardisalsointendedtobecomplementarytoexistingsystemssuchasISO14001.AndAWS’sapproach–utilizingthecompetenciesofindependentthird-partyentitiestoassesscompliancewiththestandard-drawsheavilyonexistinginternationalnormswhichapplytoconformityassessmentbodies(e.g.ISO17065).
ALLIANCE FOR WATER STEWARDSHIP (SCIO)
Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI), High School Yards, Infirmary Street, Edinburgh EHI 1LZ, Scotland TEL: +44 (0)131 651 4690 | EMAIL: [email protected]
AWS is registered as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SC045894)
B SCOPE
ThisprocedureappliestoTheAllianceforWaterStewardship(AWS).ItdescribeshowAWSwilldevelop,reviewandreviseitsStandardsSystem.ThisappliesnotonlytotheAWSStandard,butalsototheassociatedSelfVerification,CertificationandInterimAccreditationRequirements.
InaccordancewiththeISEALStandard-SettingCode,AWSStandardsSystemDevelopmentProcedureseekstoincludeallinterestsandensurethatnooneinterestcandominateintheprocessofstandardsdevelopment,reviewandrevision.
C NORMATIVEREFERENCES
AWSCertificationRequirements,Version1.0,July2015
AWSSelf-VerificationRequirements,Version1.0,July2015
AWSInterimAccreditationRequirements,Version1.0,July2015
AWSGlossaryofTerms,Version1.0,July2015
AWSTheoryofChange,
TheAWSInternationalWaterStewardshipStandard,Version1.0,April2014
ISEALAllianceCodeofGoodPractice:SettingSocialandEnvironmentalStandardsv5.0,June2010(“ISEALStandard-SettingCode”)
ISEALAllianceCodeofGoodPractice:AssuringCompliancewithSocialandEnvironmentStandardsv1.0(“ISEALAssuranceCode”)
ISO17011:2004Conformityassessment—Generalrequirementsforaccreditationbodiesaccreditingconformityassessmentbodies(§5.9,Complaints)
D ASSOCIATEDGUIDANCE
None
E TERMSANDDEFINITIONS
AlltermsaredefinedintheAWSGlossaryofTerms.
ALLIANCE FOR WATER STEWARDSHIP (SCIO)
Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI), High School Yards, Infirmary Street, Edinburgh EHI 1LZ, Scotland TEL: +44 (0)131 651 4690 | EMAIL: [email protected]
AWS is registered as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SC045894)
1 GENERALPROVISIONS1.1 StandardDevelopmentProcedures
Aim:AWSfollowstransparentproceduresthatareimprovedovertime.
1.1.1 ThisProcedureformsthebasisofthestandarddevelopmentprocessunderwhichtheAWSStandardsSystemisdevelopedandrevised.
1.1.2 ThisProcedureshallbemadeavailabletostakeholders,ontheAWSwebsite.1.1.3 ThisProcedureshallbereviewedpriortoareviewoftheAWSStandardorwithinfiveyearsof
approval,whicheverissooner,andshalltakecommentsfromstakeholdersaboutthisProcedureintoaccount.
1.2 ConsistencyBetweenStandards,wateruseprotocolsandtools.
Aim:AWSseekstoavoidduplicationandtobeconsistentwithstandardsthathaveoverlappingscopes,andtoincorporatewateruseprotocolsandtools,whilenotlimitinginnovationandimprovement.
1.2.1 Attheoutsetofastandardsdevelopmentprocess,AWSshall:1.2.1.1 Identifyandinformorganisationsthathavedevelopedinternationalstandardsthatincludewater
stewardshipprovisions,aswellaswateruseprotocolsandtools,ofitsintentiontodeveloporrevisethestandard;
1.2.1.2 Seek input from them on the review, process and terms of reference for the revision of thestandard;and
1.2.1.3 EncouragetheirparticipationintheStandardssubsequentdevelopment.1.2.1.4 Actively explore possibilities for unilateral ormutual recognition for parts or all of the system
requirements.
1.2.2 InordertofacilitatestakeholderengagementintheAWSStandardsdevelopmentAWSshallprepareanannualworkprogrammethatincludes:
1.2.2.1 Contactinformation,1.2.2.2 Anycurrentstandardsdevelopmentwork,1.2.2.3 Anystandardsadoptedintheprecedingperiod;and1.2.2.4 PublishtheannualworkprogrammeforthenextyearontheAWSwebsiteattheendofeachyear.
Guidance:Theworkprogrammedoesnotneedtobeaseparatedocument,e.g.itcanappearasapageonthewebsite.
2 STANDARDSDEVELOPMENT2.1 TermsofReferenceforthestandard
Aim:ForAWStoclearlyarticulatewhatthestandardaimstoachieveandwhythestandardcontinuestobeneeded.
ALLIANCE FOR WATER STEWARDSHIP (SCIO)
Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI), High School Yards, Infirmary Street, Edinburgh EHI 1LZ, Scotland TEL: +44 (0)131 651 4690 | EMAIL: [email protected]
AWS is registered as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SC045894)
2.1.1 AWSshalldeveloporupdatethetermsofreference(TOR)forthestandard.Theseshallbeincludedintheintroductorypagesofthestandard.
2.1.2 TheTORshallincludethefollowingelements:2.1.2.1 Theapplicability,includingsectoralscopeofthestandardandtheintendedgeographicapplication;2.1.2.2 Ajustificationoftheneedforthestandard,including:anassessmentofwaterrelatedsustainability
issues;anexplanationofwhetherthestandardwillmeettheexpressedneed;anddocumentationofotherstandardsoperatingorindevelopmentthatmeetallorpartoftheexpressedneed;
2.1.2.3 Clearsocial,environmentalandeconomicOutcomesthatthestandardseekstoachieveandhowthosearelinkedtotheorganization’sintendedchange
2.1.2.4 AWSTheoryofChange;and2.1.2.5 An assessment of risks in implementing the standard and how to mitigate these, including:
identificationoffactorsthatcouldhaveanegativeimpactontheabilityofthestandardtoachieveitsoutcomes;unintended consequences that couldarise from its implementation; andpossiblecorrectiveactionsthatcouldbetakentoaddressthesepotentialrisks.
2.2 StakeholderIdentification
Aim:ForAWStohaveanunderstandingofwhoitsstakeholdersare.2.2.1 Attheoutsetofastandardsdevelopmentprocess,theAWSshallupdatelistsofsectorsthathave
an interest inthestandardanddefinekeystakeholdergroupswithinthosesectors,basedonthestandard’sscopeanditssocial,environmentalandeconomicoutcomes.
2.2.2 Stakeholdersshallbeidentifiedonbothaninternationalandregionalbasis,inordertodeterminethatallregionsarerepresented,whilstmaintainingtheinternationalfocusofthestandard.
2.2.3 AWS shall: 2.2.3.1 seek to achieve representative participation in its standards development
activities, as evidenced by records of stakeholder input; and 2.2.3.2 to this end, set participation goals for interest sector engagement that can be evaluated and
updatedovertime.
Guidance: Key stakeholder groups includedirectly affected stakeholders (thosewhowill be impactedbyimplementationofthestandard)andmayincludeindirectlyaffectedstakeholderswhohaveaninterestintheapplicationofthestandard.Scopeincludesthesectorandgeographiestowhichthestandardapplies.As AWS has an international standard, it is important to maintain this focus, whilst reflecting regionalperspectives.
2.3 ReviewprocessAim:ForAWStoidentifythescopeoftherevisioninordertoallocatesufficienttimeandresourcestothenextroundofstandarddevelopment.
ALLIANCE FOR WATER STEWARDSHIP (SCIO)
Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI), High School Yards, Infirmary Street, Edinburgh EHI 1LZ, Scotland TEL: +44 (0)131 651 4690 | EMAIL: [email protected]
AWS is registered as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SC045894)
2.3.1 AWSshallconductareviewofthestandardanditsassociatedimplementingdocuments,priortoinitiatingarevisionprocess.
2.3.2 Thereviewshallinclude:2.3.2.1 aminimumthirty-dayconsultationofkeystakeholdergroupstoidentifyareasofthestandard
thatneedreviewandpotentialrevision;and2.3.2.2 ananalysisofallcommentsreceivedfromthisconsultationandduringthetimethatthestandard
hasbeeninoperation.
2.4 PublicSummaryoftheStandardsDevelopmentProcess
Aim:Stakeholdershavetheinformationtheyneedtodeterminewhetherandhowtoparticipate.
2.4.1 A minimum of thirty days prior to the outset of a process for development of the standard, asummaryoftheprocessshallbemadepublicallyavailablethatshallinclude:
2.4.1.1 summary of the TOR for the standard (2.1), including the proposed scope, objectives andjustificationoftheneedforthestandard;
2.4.1.2 theareasidentifiedforrevisionduringthereviewprocess;2.4.1.3 stepsinthestandarddevelopmentprocess,includingtimelinesandclearlyidentifiedopportunities
forandmeansbywhichstakeholderscancontribute;and2.4.1.4 decision-makingprocedures, includinghowdecisionsaremadeandwhomakes them. Thiswill
generallyfollowthedecision-makingprocessdescribedintheAWSTechnicalCommitteeTermsofReference,asthisisthebodythatwillimplementtheStandardsDevelopmentProcess.
2.4.1.5 Duringthisperiodandindeedoncetherevisionprocesshascommenced,stakeholdersmaysuggestwaystoimprovetheprocess.TheseshallbedulyconsideredbytheTechnicalCommittee.
Guidance:ThePublicSummaryisaconciseoverviewforstakeholderstounderstandwhetherandhowtoengage.IftheTOR(2.1)includealloftheinformationoutlinedinthisrequirement,andiftheTORaremadepubliclyavailable,thentheycanserveasthePublicSummary.However,careshouldbetakentoensuretheTORsareaccessibletostakeholders.
2.5 PublicConsultation
Aim:Stakeholdershavesufficienttimeandopportunitytoprovideinputonthestandardandcanseehowtheirinputhasbeentakenintoaccount.
2.5.1 Thepublicconsultationphaseforstandardsdevelopmentorrevisionshallinclude:2.5.1.1 Atleastoneroundof60daysforcommentsubmissionsbystakeholders.2.5.1.2 Asecondroundofconsultationofatleast30daysforstakeholderstogivefeedbackonwhether
their comments were understood and taken into account and to gain input on substantive,unresolvedissues.
ALLIANCE FOR WATER STEWARDSHIP (SCIO)
Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI), High School Yards, Infirmary Street, Edinburgh EHI 1LZ, Scotland TEL: +44 (0)131 651 4690 | EMAIL: [email protected]
AWS is registered as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SC045894)
2.5.1.3 Additional rounds of consultation, where substantive, unresolved issues persist after theconsultationround(s),orwhereinsufficientfeedbackwasreceived.
2.5.1.4 Tworoundsofpublicconsultationshouldbeincludedinplanningforanystandardsdevelopmentprocess.
2.5.2 Participationintheconsultationprocessisopentoallstakeholders;and2.5.3 AWSproactivelyseekstheparticipationofkeystakeholdergroups.
Guidance: Participation of all key stakeholder groups cannot be ensured but AWS shallmake efforts toengageallthosekeystakeholdergroupsidentifiedinthestakeholderidentificationprocess(see2.2).
2.5.4 Submissionsfromconsultationperiods.2.5.4.1 AWSshall:2.5.4.2 Compileallcommentsreceivedduringaconsultationperiodinordertoidentifymaterialissues;2.5.4.3 Documenthoweachmaterialissuehasbeenaddressedinthestandardsdevelopment;2.5.4.4 MakethisdocumentpubliclyavailableontheAWSwebsite;andsendittoallpartiesthatsubmitted
comments.2.5.4.5 MakeoriginalcommentsreceivedduringtheconsultationperiodpubliclyavailableontheAWS
website,withattributiontostakeholdergroups,butwithholdingtheidentityofstakeholder.
2.6 FeasibilityAssessment
Aim: Enterprises can implement the standard and assessors can efficiently and effectively evaluatecompliancewithit.
2.6.1 AspartoftheAWSStandardsdevelopment,AWSshallassess:2.6.1.1 TheabilityofenterprisestoimplementtherequirementsoftheAWSStandard;2.6.1.2 Theauditabilityoftherequirementsinthestandardand;2.6.1.3 The effectiveness of associatedAWSCertification andAccreditation Requirements in assessing
conformancewiththeAWSStandard.
Guidance:ThisassessmentcanincludeconsultationwithCABsandenterprisesapplyingthestandard,fieldtrialsoraudits,orimpactorriskassessmentsasappropriate.
2.7 Decision-Making
Aim:Stakeholdersseethattheirviewsarereflectedindecision-making
2.7.1 AnyStandardsDevelopmentprocessshallbeledbytheAWSTechnicalCommittee.2.7.2 MembershipoftheAWSTechnicalCommitteeis:2.7.2.1 opentoallstakeholders;and
ALLIANCE FOR WATER STEWARDSHIP (SCIO)
Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI), High School Yards, Infirmary Street, Edinburgh EHI 1LZ, Scotland TEL: +44 (0)131 651 4690 | EMAIL: [email protected]
AWS is registered as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SC045894)
2.7.2.2 shallbeconstitutedbyareasonablebalanceofthosestakeholders,includingthosethataredirectlyaffected.
2.7.3 membershipcriteriaandapplicationproceduresforbecomingamemberaretransparentandnon-discriminatory.TheseareavailableontheAWSwebsite.
2.7.4 TheTermsofReferencefortheTechnicalCommitteeinclude:2.7.4.1 consensus-baseddecisionmaking;2.7.4.2 defined criteria to determine when alternative decision-making procedures should come into
effect,intheeventthatconsensuscannotbeachieved;and2.7.4.3 Whatthedecision-makingthresholdswillbe,whilstensuringthatnoonestakeholdergrouportype
cancontroldecision-making.
NOTE:AWSiscurrentlyundergoingareviewofitsmembershipmodel.Thiswillincludethedecisionmakingstructure,aimingtobeinclusiveofallstakeholdergroups,whilstnotallowinganyonegrouptodominateinthedecisionmakingprocess.
Guidance:Consensusisdefinedasgeneralagreement,characterisedbytheabsenceofsustainedoppositiontosubstantialissuesbyanyimportantstakeholdergroup.
2.8 Standards’Availability
Aim:Thestandardandassociatedrequirementsareaccessibletointerestedstakeholders.
2.8.1 Allapprovedstandardsandrequirementsshall:2.8.1.1 bepublishedpromptly;and2.8.1.2 bemadeavailableforfree,inelectronicformatontheAWSwebsite;2.8.1.3 containasummaryofmajorchangesfromthepreviousversion.
2.8.2 AWSshallmakehardcopiesofpublicsummaries,standardsandotherrelatedmaterialsavailable
uponrequestataslowacostaspossible,andcoveringonlyreasonableadministrativecosts.2.8.3 Standardsandsupportingdocumentsshalleachinclude:2.8.3.1 contactinformationforAWS;2.8.3.2 theformalstatusofthedocument;2.8.3.3 thattheofficiallanguageisEnglish;and2.8.3.4 thatinthecaseofinconsistencybetweenversions,referenceshalldefaulttotheofficiallanguage
version.
2.8.4 AWS shall seek to ensure that translations of the standard are available in additional languageswherethissupportstheuseofthestandard.
2.8.5 WhereAWSauthorizesadditionaltranslations, itshallhaveoversightandresponsibilityforthesetranslations.
ALLIANCE FOR WATER STEWARDSHIP (SCIO)
Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI), High School Yards, Infirmary Street, Edinburgh EHI 1LZ, Scotland TEL: +44 (0)131 651 4690 | EMAIL: [email protected]
AWS is registered as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SC045894)
2.9 ReviewandRevisionofStandards
Aim:TheAWSStandardremainsrelevantovertimeandreflectscurrentstakeholderunderstandingofgoodsustainabilitypractices.
2.9.1 AWSTechnicalCommittee,withthesupportoftheAWSTechnicalProgramme,shall:2.9.1.1 review the AWS Standard including the Guidance Section and associated Certification and
Accreditation Requirements at least once every five years for continued relevance and foreffectivenessinmeetingitsstatedobjectives;and
2.9.1.2 ifnecessary,revisetheAWSStandard,GuidanceandassociatedRequirementswithinthefive-yearcycle,inlinewiththerequirementsinthissection.
2.9.2 Inordertomaintainthestakeholderconsensusachievedandsupportforthestandard,aswellasnottocauseunnecessarydisruptiontothoseimplementingthestandard,suggestionsforrevisionwillneedtobepresentedalongwithacompellingcaseforrevision.
Guidance: A standard’s review considers information gathered from stakeholder input, auditingresultsandorganizationalmonitoringandevaluation,aswellasnewknowledgeorpractices thatmightrequirethestandardtobeupdated.Ifthereviewconcludesthatchangestothestandardarerequired,thenastandardsrevisioniscarriedoutaccordingtotheprocessoutlinedinthisProcedure.TheGuidancethataccompaniestheAWSStandardisalivingdocumentandmaybeupdatedasandwhenneworrevisedguidancebecomesavailable.
2.9.3 AWSTechnicalProgrammeshall:2.9.3.1 makepubliclyavailabletheplannedtimingofthesubsequentreview;and2.9.3.2 includethisinformationinthestandard.
2.9.4 AWSacceptsproposalsatanytimeforrevisionsorclarificationstothestandard.
NOTE:PleaserefertotheAWSComments,ComplaintsandAppealsProcedure:2.2ConcernsRegardingAWS.
2.9.5 Inthecaseofnon-substantivechangestothestandard(e.g.tocorrecttypographicerrorsoroutdated
references),AWSdoesnotneedtoconductaformalrevisionprocessbutshallincludenotificationofanychangesintheAWSnewsletterandmarkeachnewversionwithaversionnumbere.g.V2.1.
2.9.6 In the caseof substantive changes to the standard, these shall be considered in the subsequentreviewandrevisionprocess.
2.9.7 Urgentsubstantiverevisionstothestandard(in-betweenregularrevisions),shall:2.9.7.1 Occurifsubstantiveomissionsareidentified.2.9.7.2 FollowtheprocessforaregularReviewandRevisionprocess.
ALLIANCE FOR WATER STEWARDSHIP (SCIO)
Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI), High School Yards, Infirmary Street, Edinburgh EHI 1LZ, Scotland TEL: +44 (0)131 651 4690 | EMAIL: [email protected]
AWS is registered as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SC045894)
2.9.8 ReviewandRevisionoftheAWSInterimAccreditationandCertificationRequirementsmaytakeplaceatanypointinthelifeoftheStandard.Suchchangesmayoccurwithouttriggeringafullrevisionofthestandard,solongasthechangedoesnotmateriallyimpactontheintentoftheStandard.
Guidance:SubstantiveomissionsincludechangestotheStandardthatwouldrequireachangeinpracticebycertifiedenterprises.SubstantiveomissionsmaybeconsideredcriticalandtriggerarevisionprocessiftheTechnicalCommitteeassesstheretobeamajorrisktotheintegrityofthesystem.InthiscasearecommendationwillbemadetotheAWSBoardfordecision.
2.10 TransitionPeriod
Aim:Certificateholders,CABsandAccreditationBodieshaveadequatetimeandnoticetocomplywithanynewrequirements.
2.10.1 AWSshallnoteinthestandard:2.10.1.1 thedateofarevisionorreaffirmationofthestandard;and2.10.1.2 thetransitionperiodbywhichtherevisedstandardwillcomeintoeffect.2.10.1.3 revisedstandardsshallgenerallybecomeeffectiveasof1stJanuaryeachyear.2.10.1.4 Noticethatarevisedstandard isbeing introducedshallbegiventoCABsandanyAccreditation
BodyassociatedwithAWSatleast3monthspriortothisdate.2.10.1.5 In the first year, extended timelinesmay be given to existing certificate holders to come into
compliancewithchangestothestandardi.e.MajorNonConformitiesmaybegivenoneyearforcompliance,ratherthantheusualthreemonths.
2.10.2 AWS shall promptly inform its stakeholders of the revised standard and transition period, inparticularConformityAssessmentBodies,andwillrequirethemtoinformcertifiedenterprisesandthosewhoareintheprocessofcertification.
2.11 Records
Aim: Stakeholders can refer to previous consultations to understand the basis for the standard’srequirements.
2.11.1 AWSshallkeeponfileforatleastfiveyears,oratleasttworevisioncycles,whicheveristhelongerperiod,thefollowingrecordsrelatedtoeachstandardsdevelopmentorrevisionprocess:
2.11.1.1.1 policiesandproceduresguidingthestandarddevelopmentactivity;2.11.1.1.2 listsofstakeholderscontacted;2.11.1.1.3 stakeholdersinvolvedateachstageoftheprocess;2.11.1.1.4 commentsreceivedandasynopsisofhowthosecommentsweretakenintoaccount;
ALLIANCE FOR WATER STEWARDSHIP (SCIO)
Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI), High School Yards, Infirmary Street, Edinburgh EHI 1LZ, Scotland TEL: +44 (0)131 651 4690 | EMAIL: [email protected]
AWS is registered as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SC045894)
2.11.1.1.5 alldraftandfinalversionsofthestandard;and2.11.1.1.6 maketheseavailabletostakeholdersuponrequest.
2.12 ResolvingComplaints
Aim: Stakeholders have access to a transparentmechanism for raising concerns about the standarddevelopmentprocessandhavingthoseconcernsconsidered.
2.12.1 AWS shall make impartial and documented efforts to resolve procedural complaints related tostandardsdevelopment,throughtheAWSComments,ComplaintsandAppealsProcedure.
Guidance:Proceduralcomplaintsarecomplaintsaboutthestandarddevelopmentprocedure(howthestandardwasset),asopposedtosubstantivecomplaints,whichrelatetothecontentofthestandardandwhichshouldbetakenintoaccountthroughtheregularstandards’reviewandrevisionprocess.RefertotheAWSComments,ComplaintsandAppealsProcedureformoreinformation.
2.12.2 AWSshalldisclosedecisionstakenonproceduralcomplaints.
3 STRUCTUREANDCONTENT3.1 SustainabilityOutcomes
Aim:Thestandardonlycontainsrequirementsthatsupportachievementofthedefinedsustainabilityoutcomes.
3.1.1 AWSshallstatethedefinedsocial,environmentalandeconomicoutcomesclearlyandexplicitlyinthestandard.(seeISEALImpactsCode)
3.1.2 AWSshallensureinitsstandardthat:3.1.2.1 criteriaareincludedtoaddressallofthedefinedsocial,environmentalandeconomicoutcomes;
and3.1.2.2 onlycriteriathatarerelevanttomeetingtheseoutcomesareincluded.
Guidance:Makingtheselinkscanbeaccomplishedbyincludingintroductorylanguageineachsectionofthestandardindicatingtowhichoutcomesthecriteriarelate,orbynotingthiscorrelationbesideeachcriterion.TheAWSStandardV1-0describessuchoutcomesintheIntroduction,page9.
3.1.2.3 AWSshallensurethatanyclaimsmadeaboutthestandardoraboutcompliancewiththestandardareconsistentwiththedefinedsocial,environmentalandeconomicoutcomes.(seeISEALImpactsCode6.5andISEALClaimsGoodPracticeGuide).
Guidance:Claimsmadeaboutthestandardareatypeofmarketingclaimthat isusedtopromoteanaspectof,orrelationshipwithastandardssystem.Anexamplewouldbeanadvertisementpromoting
ALLIANCE FOR WATER STEWARDSHIP (SCIO)
Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI), High School Yards, Infirmary Street, Edinburgh EHI 1LZ, Scotland TEL: +44 (0)131 651 4690 | EMAIL: [email protected]
AWS is registered as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SC045894)
association with a standard or standards system. Claimsmade about compliance with the standardusuallyresultfromaconformityassessmentprocess.
Examplesofassuredclaimsincludeuseoflogos/labels/trustmarksandclaimsofcertificationagainstastandard.NOTE:AdescriptionoftheclaimsthatcanbemadeisgivenintheAWSSelfVerificationRequirementsandAWSCertificationRequirements.
3.2 PerformanceLevel
Aim: Requirements in the standard are set at a performance level that results in significant positivesustainabilityimpacts.
3.2.1 TheAWSStandardshall:3.2.1.1 meetorexceedexistingregulatoryrequirements;and3.2.1.2 clearlyreferencerelevant,existingnationaland/orinternationallawsandregulations. 3.2.1.3 Addressstakeholderconcernswhichexceedexistingregulatoryrequirements,inordertoaddress
theAWSmission.
3.3 ConsistentInterpretation
Aim:Thestandardisconsistentlyinterpretedandappliedacrossitsfullgeographicscope.
3.3.1 TheAWSStandardshallbeconsistentwiththefollowingrequirements:3.3.1.1 onlyincludelanguagethatisclear,specific,objectiveandverifiable;3.3.1.2 beexpressed in termsofprocess,managementandperformancecriteria, rather thandesignor
descriptivecharacteristics;3.3.1.3 notfavouraparticulartechnologyorpatenteditem;3.3.1.4 includedefinitionofthescopetowhichthestandardapplies;3.3.1.5 attributeorcitealloriginalintellectualsourcesofcontent;and3.3.1.6 not present administrative requirements related to assurance, claims or labels or other non-
technicalissuesintegratedwithtechnicaland/orperformancerequirements. Guidance: ‘Assurance’ requirements can include scoring mechanisms for evaluating compliance,definitionofmandatoryandimprovementrequirements,policiesonderogationsfromthestandard,etc.‘Othernon-technicalissues’areissuessuchasrequirementsforparticipationinthescheme.
3.3.2 AWSshallpreparesufficientguidanceonthestandardtosupportconsistent interpretationof itsrequirements.
Guidance: In cases where there is a detailed normative standard, additional guidance may not benecessary.
ALLIANCE FOR WATER STEWARDSHIP (SCIO)
Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI), High School Yards, Infirmary Street, Edinburgh EHI 1LZ, Scotland TEL: +44 (0)131 651 4690 | EMAIL: [email protected]
AWS is registered as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SC045894)
3.3.3 TheAWSStandardshallbeusedwithoutnationalorregionaladaptations. 3.3.4 NationalorregionalguidancefortheAWSStandardshallbeasconsistentaspossiblewithstandard’s
guidanceandatleastasstringent.3.3.5 Disputesthatarisefrominconsistenciesbetweenthestandard’sguidanceandlocalguidanceshall
alwaysdefertotheAWSStandard,includinganyassociatedinterpretation.
3.4 LocalApplicability
Aim:Thestandardisrelevantinthelocalcontextswhereitisapplied,basedinpartoninputfromlocalstakeholders.
3.4.1 Theprocess to take intoaccount localeconomic, social,environmentalandregulatoryconditionsshall reflect the process at an international level, including stakeholder identification andengagementandinputtotheinternationalstandardsdevelopment,inorderthattheinternationalstandardtakesaccountoflocalconditions.
3.4.2 The national or regional level may augment the Guidance associated with the Standard at theinternationallevelinordertofacilitatelocalimplementation.