To whom it may concern:

With the effects on global business from the current COVID-19 emergency, ACRS recognises the increasing risk of supply of nonconforming steel where disruption to established supply chains creates the potential for procurement from alternate, unverified sources.

The ACRS scheme is continuing its operation uninterrupted and ACRS certificates continue to be valid, providing continuing assurance to users of steel conformity.

However, as a result of COVID-19, and in consideration of government advice regarding the health and wellbeing of our staff, contractors, and certified organisations; ACRS will be postponing, cancelling, or making alternate arrangements for a number of (but not all) assessments.

For those certificate holders affected, ACRS is developing processes and practices for the temporary substitution of our normal site assessment practice by remote assessments plus additional market testing, where such an approach is necessary and feasible. We will be in touch with the affected certificate holders to provide details on the above. This will be prioritised for sites with assessments due in the next few months.

For certificate users, including specifiers, purchasers and users, we are developing processes and procedures to ensure the effectiveness of the ACRS scheme and assurance to certificate users is maintained throughout the current crisis to ensure continued confidence in steel supply.

A communique on the measures to be adopted will be sent out soon. We thank you for your patience and understanding.

 

---