Simple, transparent and evidence-based.

Scheme Rules — Version 1.2. Updated 8 August 2026.

1. Purpose

BEQUAL recognises organisations whose commitments across several areas of diversity and social inclusion are supported by valid and independently verified third-party certifications. BEQUAL is a documentary certification scheme and does not repeat the organisational audits conducted for the supporting certifications.

2. Diversity areas

• Disability inclusion.
• Equal opportunities.
• Vulnerable groups.
• People at risk of social exclusion.

3. Certification levels

• BEQUAL: verified coverage in two areas.
• BEQUAL Silver: verified coverage in three areas.
• BEQUAL Gold: verified coverage in four areas.

4. Eligible supporting evidence

Supporting evidence must be valid and independently verifiable; issued by a competent public authority or eligible independent certification body; clearly identify the certified organisation and relevant scope; be relevant to at least one BEQUAL diversity area; and remain active and free from suspension or withdrawal.

Awards, memberships, self-declarations and unverified commitments are not accepted as certifications. There is no closed list of accepted certifications: each item of evidence is assessed individually.

5. Application

The initial eligibility form allows an organisation to identify its existing certifications without immediately submitting full documentation. An eligibility response is preliminary and does not guarantee certification. The complete assessment begins only after the applicant accepts the applicable proposal and supplies the required documentation.

6. Accredited Auditors

Within the BEQUAL scheme, an Accredited Auditor is an independent auditor evaluated and authorised by the BEQUAL Technical Committee. This designation does not imply accreditation by a national accreditation body unless expressly stated.

Accredited Auditors must act impartially, protect confidential information and disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest.

7. Documentary verification

The Accredited Auditor reviews the identity and competence of the issuer; the validity and status of the supporting certificate; the legal entity, sites or operations covered; the relevance of the evidence to each BEQUAL area; and any restrictions or exclusions affecting the scope. Applicants may be asked to provide clarifications or additional documentary evidence.

8. Certification decision

The auditor prepares a documented assessment. BEQUAL CERTIFICATE™ makes the final certification decision based on the verified evidence and the applicable scheme rules. Certification may be refused where the evidence is insufficient, invalid, unverifiable, misleading or outside the requested organisational scope.

9. Fees

Applicable fees, taxes, payment conditions and included services are communicated in writing before the organisation begins the complete certification assessment. No additional fee will apply unless it has been communicated and accepted in writing.

10. Validity

BEQUAL certification is valid for three years from the issue date, subject to the continued validity of the supporting certifications. The certified organisation must inform BEQUAL without undue delay of any expiry, suspension, withdrawal or material change affecting the supporting evidence.

11. Renewal

Renewal requires confirmation that the supporting certifications remain valid and continue to cover the areas associated with the BEQUAL level. Renewal is not automatic and should be requested sufficiently in advance of expiry.

12. Suspension, revision and withdrawal

BEQUAL may revise, suspend or withdraw a certificate when supporting evidence expires, is suspended or withdrawn; false, incomplete or misleading information is identified; the mark is used outside its authorised scope; the organisation fails to communicate a material change; or continued certification could mislead third parties.

Except where immediate action is necessary to prevent fraud or serious misunderstanding, the organisation will be notified and given a reasonable opportunity to respond or correct the issue. A suspended, expired or withdrawn mark must not be used to imply current certification.

13. Complaints and appeals

Applicants and certified organisations may submit a reasoned complaint or appeal to info@bequal.eu. An appeal should normally be submitted within 30 calendar days of the relevant decision. It will be reviewed by a person or panel that did not make the original decision and has no relevant conflict of interest. The appellant will receive a reasoned response as soon as reasonably possible.

14. Use of the certification mark

The BEQUAL mark may only be used by the certified organisation, during the validity period, for the awarded level and within the legal entity, sites and activities included in the verified scope. It must not imply certification of products, services, subsidiaries, sites or activities outside that scope. The right to use the mark ends automatically when certification expires, is suspended or is withdrawn.

15. Verification

Each issued certificate includes a unique identifier and QR code linking to the current verification record. The online record displays the published organisation, level, verified areas, validity dates and current status.

16. Confidentiality and data protection

Certification documentation is treated as confidential and is accessed only where necessary for assessment, decision-making, administration, legal compliance or dispute resolution. Applicants should provide only the information necessary for documentary verification and should avoid submitting identifiable employee or special-category personal data.

17. No automatic legal compliance

BEQUAL verifies the documentary evidence supporting the awarded diversity areas. It does not provide legal advice or independently certify compliance with CSRD, national equality or disability legislation, public procurement requirements or other statutory obligations unless expressly stated.

18. Third-party schemes and trade marks

Third-party certification names and trade marks belong to their respective owners. Their acceptance as supporting evidence does not imply ownership, endorsement, partnership or automatic acceptance of every certificate issued under that scheme.

19. Rule changes

BEQUAL may update these rules to reflect legal, technical or scheme developments. The rules applicable to a certification decision will be the version identified in the accepted proposal or certification documentation.

20. Governing law

These rules are governed by Spanish law. Unless mandatory law provides otherwise, disputes relating to the BEQUAL certification service are subject to the courts of Barcelona, Spain.

21. Independence and distinction from other schemes

BEQUAL CERTIFICATE™ is an independent European documentary certification scheme covering multiple areas of diversity and social inclusion.

BEQUAL CERTIFICATE does not own, manage or replace the third-party certifications used as supporting evidence. Each scheme retains its own methodology, assessment criteria, trade marks and certification decisions.

References to third-party schemes do not imply endorsement, partnership or reciprocal recognition unless expressly confirmed in writing.