FAQ: 2020 Farm Requirements
A detailed FAQ about the Rainforest Alliance 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Standard Farm Requirements.... Continue Reading
FAQs
The Rainforest Alliance is opening a new authorization process for Certification Bodies (CBs) in Japan. Certification bodies that are approved during this process will be authorized to conduct Rainforest Alliance Certification audits in their respective countries and will be able to request scope extensions for additional countries in the future.
Certification bodies must meet the following conditions to apply for authorization:
- The CB must have a physical office in the country for which they are applying.
- The CB must have local certifier and lead auditors (for Supply Chain and Farms) that will meet the requirements of Chapter 2 of the Rules for Certification Bodies version 1.2 by the end of the authorization process.
CBs interested in applying for authorization in Japan must express their interest to cbmanagement@ra.org no later than September 30th, 2023.
Interested CBs will receive further information about how the authorization process works and how to apply.
Quick Links
2020 Sustainable Agriculture Standard: Farm Requirements
The Farm Requirements of our new Sustainable Agriculture Standard are designed to help farmers protect the landscapes where they live and work, while offering an enhanced framework to improve their livelihoods and advance the human rights of rural people.
2020 Sustainable Agriculture Standard: Supply Chain Requirements
The Sustainable Agriculture Standard’s Supply Chain Requirements aim to foster transparency and responsible business practices among companies from farm to shelf.
2020 Rules for Certification Bodies
The audit and certification services rendered under the Assurance System maintain and ensure a general sense of purpose as well as a commitment to high quality.
2020 Certification and Auditing Rules
The Assurance System of the 2020 Certification Program introduces numerous innovations to ensure that certification is more context-specific, data-driven, and risk-based.
Must-read resources for certification bodies
FAQ: 2020 Assurance Program
Detailed information about the assurance system used in the Rainforest Alliance's 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Standard.... Continue Reading
All resources for Certification Bodies & Auditors
How is the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard Developed and Maintained?
We are committed to keeping our Sustainable Agriculture Standard effective and relevant, and review it at least every five years.... Continue Reading
What’s New in Version 1.2 of the Sustainable Agriculture Standard?
Just as the 2020 Certification Program is designed to promote continuous improvement by farmers and supply chain actors, the Rainforest Alliance is also committed to doing the same with our work. In practice this means that as we roll out the new program, we continue to engage in dialogue with our partners to make the […]
2020 Rules for Certification Bodies
The Rainforest Alliance manages, and is responsible for, a global Assurance System for Certification Bodies.
Certification Application Form (CAF) Guidance Templates
Non-binding forms and templates suggested to CBs so they can record other activities and processes as part of the Certification Process of the Sustainable Agriculture Standard 2020.
Policy Water Permit Requirements Costa Rica
This policy is to provide interpretation of the requirements in the context of Costa Rica law and regulatory processes on the respective requirements for water extractions until the conditions are favorable to obtain the necessary documentation required for water extraction and use.
Policy on the transition period to the 2020 certification system for banana certificate holders
Due to the unique market characteristics of the sector, banana growers will have an extended period until 31 December 2022 to complete their first audit to the 2020 Rainforest Alliance standard. The document elaborates on the Transition period rules for banana certificate holders and applicability of the requirements related to Sustainability Differential and Sustainability Investments.