UKAS and BBA Release Statements Updating Industry on Suspension

These statements provide more information to affected businesses during this time.  

The UKAS statement outlined that it had “suspended all scopes of BBA’s accreditation on 26 February 2026.  

“This suspension remains in force until and unless the BBA closes its findings to meet the requirements for the suspension to be lifted.” 

The UKAS statement goes on to explain the body's role and the wider context of the suspension, including how long it may go on for.  

“UKAS may impose a suspension of accreditation where there are nonconformities against the requirements of the standard. UKAS does not suspend accreditation lightly, nor does it suspend accreditation for minor administrative or minor procedural reasons.  

“UKAS has granted nearly 3,000 accreditations and delivers 37,000 assessment days per year. Fewer than 20 accredited bodies are currently under UKAS imposed suspension. 

“A suspension is usually a temporary measure, from which the organisation is expected to regain accreditation within a short period (usually within 3 months although in exceptional circumstances this may be extended up to 9 months). UKAS may subsequently withdraw accreditation if the issues leading to suspension have not been adequately addressed within that period. More details are on the UKAS website. 

“UKAS’s suspension of BBA’s accreditation on 26 February 2026 may therefore last until 25 November 2026, at the latest. In the meantime, UKAS is in regular contact with BBA as it responds to nonconformities raised during assessments and works to address the findings which led to the suspension.” 

UKAS then explains further about why they cannot publicly disclose more information during the investigatory process, and the obligations which rest with the BBA, alongside acknowledging the impact the suspension is having on industry.  

Find out more from UKAS’s full statement here.  

Later that day, the BBA released a statement in response.  

“We take our obligations to comply to the processes, by which we are audited, very seriously. No concerns have been raised by UKAS in relation to the BBA’s technical competence,” the statement said.  

“BBA’s service and coverage have remained the same since before and after its corporate re-structure on 1 July 2025. The workforce is the same, all sites and equipment remain unchanged, and the same is true for our formal certification/test methods and their related procedures. The corporate re-structure is the focus of UKAS’s suspension. 

“The BBA is currently engaged in the process of appeal, in line with UKAS procedures. The BBA continues to respond promptly and thoroughly to all findings raised by UKAS. We remain open to discussion and to full transparency and cooperation to bring this to resolution as soon as possible.” 

The BBA statement then proceeds to acknowledge the impact of their suspension on industry, as well as providing some guidance on what can be done in the meantime. 

Read the BBA’s full statement here.  

Learn more about what you can do, and what your obligations are for maintaining certification during the suspension, here.