Fairtrade International Requirements for Assurance Providers Version 1.1 Contact for comments and information: [email protected] Table of Contents Normative documents ............................................................................................................ 4 Terms and definitions ............................................................................................................ 4 Scope of application .............................................................................................................. 5 Responsibility for these requirements .................................................................................... 5 Part A: General requirements for assurance providers ................................................... 6 1 Scope ................................................................................................................. 6 2 General requirements for assurance providers ..................................................... 6 2.1 Oversight ............................................................................................................................. 6 2.2 Implications of cancellation of approval .............................................................................. 6 2.3 Conformity to ISO/IEC 17065 and Fairtrade International requirements ............................ 6 2.4 Submission of reports, data and requests to Fairtrade International .................................. 7 2.5 Certification contract ........................................................................................................... 7 2.6 Use of confidential information in audits ............................................................................. 7 2.7 Information for clients.......................................................................................................... 7 2.8 Eligibility for certification...................................................................................................... 8 2.9 Timing and intensity of audits ............................................................................................. 8 2.10 Permission to trade ............................................................................................................. 9 2.11 Sanctions .......................................................................................................................... 10 2.12 Exceptions ........................................................................................................................ 11 2.13 Allegations, complaints and appeals ................................................................................ 11 2.14 Miscellaneous provisions .................................................................................................. 11 2.15 Changes affecting certification .......................................................................................... 12 2.16 Publicly available information ........................................................................................... 12 3 Structural requirements ..................................................................................... 12 4 Resource requirements ..................................................................................... 12 4.1 Personnel .......................................................................................................................... 12 5 Process requirements ....................................................................................... 12 5.1 Processes ......................................................................................................................... 12 5.2 Confirmation of scope ....................................................................................................... 13 5.3 Audit planning ................................................................................................................... 13 5.4 Audit dates ........................................................................................................................ 13 5.5 Audit evidence .................................................................................................................. 13 5.6 Certification decision and certificate issue ........................................................................ 14 5.7 Suspension, cancelation or withdrawal of certification ..................................................... 14 5.8 Certification documentation .............................................................................................. 15 6 Management system requirements .................................................................... 15 6.1 Conflict of interest policy ................................................................................................... 15 Part B: Requirements for assurance providers certifying traders ................................ 16 7 Scope ............................................................................................................... 16 8 General requirements ........................................................................................ 16 Fairtrade International RAPs v1.1 – March 2016 Page 2 8.1 Scheme for small licensees .............................................................................................. 16 9 Structural requirements ..................................................................................... 16 10 Resource requirements ..................................................................................... 17 11 Process requirements ....................................................................................... 17 11.1 Planning - audit duration ................................................................................................... 17 11.2 Site visit – sampling .......................................................................................................... 17 11.3 Final report ........................................................................................................................ 17 12 Management system requirements for assurance providers ............................... 17 Part C: Requirements for assurance providers certifying producers ..................................... 18 13 Scope ............................................................................................................... 18 14 General requirements ........................................................................................ 18 15 Structural requirements ..................................................................................... 18 16 Resource requirements ..................................................................................... 18 17 Process requirements ....................................................................................... 18 17.1 Planning - audit duration ................................................................................................... 18 17.2 Site visit – sampling .......................................................................................................... 19 17.3 Final report ........................................................................................................................ 19 18 Management system requirements .................................................................... 19 Part D: Requirements for auditors and other assurance personnel ............................. 20 19 Scope ............................................................................................................... 20 20 General requirements ........................................................................................ 20 21 Qualification criteria .......................................................................................... 20 22 Competency criteria .......................................................................................... 21 Part E: Requirements for assurance providers certifying product specific standards 22 E1: Textile standard .......................................................................................................... 22 23 Scope ............................................................................................................... 22 24 General requirements ........................................................................................ 22 25 Structural requirements ..................................................................................... 22 26 Resource requirements ..................................................................................... 22 26.1 Personnel .......................................................................................................................... 22 27 Process requirements ....................................................................................... 22 27.1 Planning - audit duration ................................................................................................... 22 27.2 Planning - preparation....................................................................................................... 23 27.3 Site visit – use of information from other sources ............................................................. 23 27.4 Site visit – effective worker’s participation ........................................................................ 23 27.5 Final report .......................................................................................................................