BSCI
The Business Social Compliance Initiative is the broadest business-driven platform for the improvement of social compliance in all supplier countries and for all consumer goods. BSCI is an initiative of European retail companies initiated by the Foreign Trade Association (FTA), Brussels. The BSCI has around 100 members that support the Code of Conduct. Their suppliers of these retail companies need to comply with the social standard of the Code of Conduct. Suppliers also need to take responsibility for producers who sell primary products to them.
The BSCI code of conduct is built on internationally recognised labour standards protecting workers rights, in particular the ILO Core Labour Conventions. It is based on a development approach, and aims at continuously improving the social performance of suppliers, encouraging them to apply for SA8000 certification.
more information
SA8000
SA8000 is the first global certification system for supply chain labour standards. It is being put into practice with around 350 production facilities so far. The standard is primarily focused on processing facilities (factories) worldwide, mainly for manufacturing goods. SA8000 stands for Social Accountability 8000 and is established by Social Accountability International (SAI), an international non-governmental, multi-stakeholder organisation.
more information
Sustainable Agriculture Standard - Rainforest Alliance
The Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behaviour. The Rainforest Alliance focuses on (small-scale) farmers involved in agriculture, forestry or tourism. Their standards focus on environmental as well as social issues to be taken into account by farmers.
more information
Fairtrade (FLO)
Fairtrade Labelling Organisation International (FLO) is part of a worldwide network of Fairtrade organisations actively involved in supporting producers, awareness raising and campaigning for changes in the rules and practices of conventional international trade. Fairtrade standards have been developed to support small-scale farmers in trading their produce on the international market. For certain products standards have also been developed for plantations who wish to ‘trade fairly’.
more information
GlobalGAP
GlobalGAP (formerly known as EurepGAP) sets standards for the certification of agricultural products around the globe. The GlobalGAP standard is primarily designed to reassure consumers about how food is produced on the farm by ensuring hygiene and food safety, minimising environmental impacts of farming operations, reducing the use of chemical inputs and ensuring a responsible approach to worker health and safety as well as animal welfare.
more information
UTZ CERTIFIED
UTZ CERTIFIED is a certification program for coffee worldwide. It provides independent assurance of responsible production and sourcing. UTZ creates opportunities for farmers to improve business practices and meet market expectations. And UTZ is a credible trust mark for brands to meet their customers' expectations regarding social and environmental responsibility.
more information
ETI Base Code
The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) is an alliance of companies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and trade union organisations. They promote and improve the implementation of corporate codes of practice which cover supply chain working conditions. Their goal is to ensure that the working conditions of workers producing for the UK market meet or exceed international labour standards. Member companies commit themselves to the ETI Base Code, and their suppliers need to implement the principles of the code. The member companies include both retailers and suppliers who source and/or sell food, clothing and other products in UK markets.
more information
Ecocert Fair Trade standards
Ecocert is a private company that is involved in certification and standard setting. At the moment Ecocert is a certification body for different kinds of schemes, in the field of organic, food safety, environmental and social compliance. Ecocert has developed a set of standards defining fair and responsible trade, together with related documents, control tools and certification procedures. Ecocert Fair Trade (EFT) Standards emphasize social and environmental criteria and require consideration of the entire commodity chain.
more information
Soil Association-Ethical Trade Organic Standards
Soil Association is a UK certification (charity)organisation for organic food and farming. They set standards, carry out certifications and provide support to all stakeholders in the supply chain. They have developed standards for ethical trade of organic products. The aim is to identify and recognize fair and ethical trade practices through the whole organic food chain, from producer to retailer in both developing and developed countries.
more information
BRC Global Standards
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is a UK trade association representing the whole range of retailers, selling a wide selection of products.
The BRC Global Standards is an inspection protocol used by British retailers. In addition to the aspects related to environment, process and personnel, BRC integrates HACCP principles for analyzing and mastering hygiene hazards concerning food products.
more information
HACCP
HACCP is a tool to control food hygiene and ensure food safety. HACCP systems are being used in the food sector and applicable to companies that process, treat, pack, transport, distribute foodstuffs. Food safety is a legal requirement for import of all foodstuff to the EU, and HACCP is one of the few systems that can guarantees this.
more information
ISO22000
This international standard covers “Food Safety Management Systems – Requirements for any Organisation in the Food Chain.” The purpose of the standard is to ensure that any organisations working within the food chain establish management systems that ensure food is safe. It combines food safety with quality management, mainly of interest to big companies with worldwide markets.
more information
Organic (EU)
Organic standards have long been used to create an agreement within organic agriculture about what an "organic" claim on a product means, and to some extent, to inform consumers. Currently there are hundreds of private organic standards worldwide; and in addition, organic standards have been codified in the technical regulations of more than 60 governments.
Although certification started as a voluntary activity, the market began to demand it for sales transactions, and now it is required by the regulations of many governments for any kind of an "organic" claim on a product label.
more information
