Remote Audit - COVID Policy
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, MarinTrust has invoked its Process on Handling Remote MarinTrust Factory and MarinTrust Chain of Custody Audits during Extraordinary Events or Circumstances. These policies shall be valid until further notice.

Documentation
Version 3 of the COVID Policy is effective and the previous version 2 is superseded. For further guidance, please refer to Transition document.
- Covid Policy - Issued 25 July 2022 - Effective from 01 November 2022 - Version 3
- Process on Handling Remote & Enhanced Remote Factory and Chain of Custody Audits during Extraordinary events of Circumstances – Issued 07 February 2022 – Effective from 07 March 2022 – Version 2.1
- Enhanced Remote audit guidance – Issued 07 February 2022 – Effective from 07 March 2022 – Version 1
- Remote and Enhanced Remote Audit Checklist Tool Use Guidance – Issued 07 February 2022 – Effective from 07 March 2022 – Version 1
- Standard Checklists – Issued 07 February 2022 – Effective from 07 March 2022 – Version 1
Guidance for applicant and certificate holders who undergo remote and enhance remote audit can be found as follows:
- Applicant and Certificate Holder Responsibilities and Guidance for Remote and Enhanced Remote Audits – Issued 07 February 2022 – Effective from 07 March 2022 – Version 1
These policies and procedures are reviewed regularly and amended where applicable in accordance with the changing nature of the pandemic to ensure its ongoing relevance.
MarinTrust Auditing Options and Scenarios

MarinTrust has agreed that for all MarinTrust audits to either its Factory Standard or its Chain of Custody Standard the following requirements shall need to be followed by its approved Certification Bodies.
New Applicants
- All new applicants will be deemed high risk and will be required to undergo the audit onsite. These shall be processed and made audit ready until the CB can execute the audit onsite following the agreed certification procedures and requirements.
- Where an onsite audit is not possible, as of 7th March 2022 new facilities to the MarinTrust Programme, who therefore have no previous certification history, may be offered an enhanced remote audit option. The CB shall follow guidance on Enhanced Remote Audits within this document and Enhanced Remote Audit Guidance addendum document.
Surveillance Audits
- All certified sites shall be required to have the annual surveillance audit to maintain the continuity of their certificate for either the MarinTrust Factory Standard or the MarinTrust CoC Standard. Where an on-site audit is not possible in affected areas*, the CB shall conduct a Risk Assessment and follow guidance in table 1.
Re-certification Audits

- All recertification applicants to either the MarinTrust Factory Standard or MarinTrust Chain of Custody Standard whose certification is due to expire within the validity date of this policy, shall have their current certificate extended by a period of up to 6 months by their CB from the date of certificate expiry. If an on-site audit cannot be completed within this time, the CB shall conduct a Risk Assessment and follow guidance in table 1.
Table 1 – remote auditing options based off allocated level of risk of the facility by Certification Bodies
Risk | Surveillance | Recertification |
---|---|---|
Low |
|
|
Medium |
- an onsite audit must be conducted within 6-months to provide assurance that clause requirements not able to be assessed (or only partially verified) remotely are fully complied with. - If during the remote audit it was possible to fully verify all clauses of the relevant standard the following onsite audit shall follow the normal audit frequency of 12 months and must be conducted onsite.
|
- an onsite audit must be conducted within 6-months to provide assurance that clause requirements not able to be assessed (or only partially verified) remotely are fully complied with. - If during the remote audit it was possible to fully verify all clauses of the relevant standard the following onsite audit shall follow the normal audit frequency of 12 months and must be conducted onsite.
|
High |
|
|
* “Affected areas” are considered those countries, provinces, territories or cities experiencing ongoing transmission of COVID-19, in contrast to areas reporting only imported cases.” https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/travel-advice