Who must be audited?
On-site visits are required:
- For ALL certificate holders
- At each certified location
- Regardless of business type (manufacturer, distributor, reseller, etc.)
All audits are conducted by trained and accredited OEKO-TEX® auditors.
On-site Visit FAQ
Purpose
Who
When
Where
Confidentiality
Why are on-site audits required?
On-site visits ensure:
- Application matches reality
- Quality assurance system in place
- Ability to guarantee certified products always conform to the standard
When are audits required?
On-site visits are required:
- Within 6 months of the first certification
- Every 3rd year thereafter
(For OEKO-TEX® ORGANIC COTTON, audits are required every year)
Where are the audits conducted?
Audits take place on-site, at the address of the certificate holder.
How is my information used?
All information is for audit purposes only and remains confidential.
What to Expect
Before
During
After
Before the Audit
- Hohenstein account manager or quality assurance officer schedules the audit
- Company completes self-assessment (provides useful overview and required documents)
During the Audit
Typical duration ~2 hours
- Brief overview of your company
- Review of self-assessment and application details, including:
- Quality management system
- Traceability
- Label use
- Tour, including all areas relevant to certified product (storage, production lines, laboratories, etc.)
- Discuss findings and next steps
After the Audit
- Auditor completes the inspection report
- For any non-compliances, company provides resolution within mutually agreed time frame