Evolution of Governance Policies

05   Which version applies

Requirements apply prospectively. Conduct and compliance are assessed against the substantive requirements in effect when the relevant conduct occurred or obligation was due. A later amendment does not, by itself, make earlier conduct a violation.
 

Applications and renewals. An application or renewal is assessed against the requirements in effect when ElitePetz accepts the submission as complete for review, unless an approved amendment expressly establishes a different transition arrangement. The acknowledgment of a complete submission identifies the applicable policy versions. After certification is granted or renewed, ongoing obligations apply as described below.
 

Ongoing certification. A new or amended requirement applies to existing certification holders from its effective date, or from the later compliance date stated in its transition provisions. Continuing conduct or an ongoing condition may be assessed under the new requirement for the period after that date. Earlier conduct remains subject to the requirements then in effect.
 

Review procedures and pending matters. A review follows the procedural policy version in effect when ElitePetz issues written notice opening the review. If no opening notice is required, the controlling date is the recorded date the review begins. A later procedural amendment applies to a pending matter only where its approved transition provisions expressly say so. The affected entity receives written notice of the change and any revised response arrangements. The change must not retrospectively remove a response or review opportunity already provided.
 

Transition provisions. Each material amendment states its effective date, any later compliance date, and its treatment of pending applications, renewals and reviews. If no different transition arrangement is stated, the rules above apply. An urgent effective date does not, by itself, authorize retrospective application or change certification status.
 

Decision record. Each written determination identifies the document IDs and versions applied, the relevant dates, and any transition provision relied upon. Different versions may apply to different periods of conduct within one matter. The decision date or status-action date does not, by itself, determine which substantive requirements govern.
 

Earlier determinations. A policy amendment alone does not reopen or alter a recorded determination. Any correction, reconsideration or appeal follows the applicable authorized procedure. These rules remain subject to controlling law and the applicable certification agreement.

06   Where to find changes and earlier versions

Where a policy publishes a version history, it identifies its revisions, publication and effective dates, change summary, and status. Where an earlier version is not linked from the page, it may be requested through the Official Inquiry form by quoting the document ID and version number, using the subject "Administrative record request".

The Governance function permanently retains every approved policy version, including superseded and withdrawn versions, together with its document ID, version, publication and effective dates, any withdrawal date, change summary, transition provisions and the minimum approval record needed to establish who authorized the version and when. This retention rule applies to authoritative policy versions and their supporting governance records. It does not establish permanent retention for inquiry correspondence, personal information or certification case files. A request may quote the document ID and version, or the relevant date if the version is unknown; no Certification ID is needed. Access to retained policy text does not extend to internal deliberations or private certification records.

The Governance Framework is the policy index. Certification status history is a separate record of actions affecting an entity’s certification; it is not the archive of policy versions.