CAT web poll prompts IAAF statement of support for Kitemark

The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation has put its backing firmly behind the BSI Kitemark and says it will lead a revision of the scheme.

In a statement, Mike Owen, head of the Federation’s garage section, said that the kitemark scheme is “a huge opportunity for the garages to take on board and help improve themselves in so many ways”.

He spoke out after CAT readers responding to a poll on this website said that they felt the Kitemark to be the most robust garage standard on the market.

Quintin Cornforth, head of the IAAF lobbying section added: “The time is right for a proper system to be developed and enshrined as the foundation upon which the industry must base itself. As the IAAF see it, there is currently only one real cross-party scheme available – that of PAS 80 from the respected BSI.”

However, both men stressed that the Kitemark must be revised if it is to strike the right chord with the UK’s independent garages.

“IAAF does not wish to read in three years another condemnation of their industry,” said Cornforth, referring to the damning Which? report on servicing standards in the sector.

“To this end, together with BSI, [we] are prepared to lead the review of PAS 80 and champion this revised standard to the industry.”