What can you do in the RACP?

Register in the RACP to join the Rainforest Alliance 2020 program. Here you can create your account, obtain your Rainforest Alliance certification, manage your licenses, report traceability, view your finance information, and submit claims approval requests.

Who needs to register in the RACP?

Registration in RACP applies to:

• Producers: small farms, large farms, farm groups
• Supply Chain Actors (including Retailers, Foodservice Companies, Brand owners)

What is this user manual for?

This user manual helps Supply Chain Certificate Holders (including Retailers, Foodservice Companies, and Brand owners) navigate the RACP during the registration and certification process, the certification renewal process, and how to manage users and contacts.

Steps to get Supply Chain Certification

You can find more information on our page How to Get Supply Chain Certification: A Guide for Companies.

1. Submit your registration request

1. Go to the RACP registration page here.
2. Select your preferred language in the top right corner.
3. Click on the Supply Chain Actor flow.
   • Note: If you are a retailer or Foodservice Company, click on the Retailer flow instead.
4. Provide your organization’s information:
   1. Organization details:
      1. organization name;
      2. if applicable, your legacy Rainforest Alliance/UTZ ID.
      3. your main crop.
      4. any additional activities.
   2. Organization address: this is the location where the certificate is managed.
   3. Personal details: your first name, last name and business email address.
   4. Terms & Conditions:
      1. Read and accept the Terms & Conditions.
      2. Submit your registration: click on ‘Submit participation’.

2. Create your certification profile

After you receive the activation e-mail, click on the link in the email to activate your username and set your new password.

You will land in your Dashboard at the following screen:

Tell us what site(s) you want to certify, by indicating:

• your Central Management Location. This is the address of the management office;
• any additional sites that you want to include in your certification (if applicable).

Summary: Click on ‘Submit’ to continue with the next steps.

For any required edits, click on the ‘Edit’ button under Action.

You will now land in the section ‘Certification Overview’, where you can see the overview of the sites in your certification scope.

2.1 Add and maintain sites

In your ‘Certification scope’, you can find an overview of your sites.

You need to fill in more information about your site(s). Click on ‘Edit’ and fill in the information as applicable:

1. Details: enter your site’s information.
2. Crops: select the Rainforest Alliance Certified crop(s) handled at this location. Provide an estimation of the volumes (total of Rainforest Alliance Certified volumes, non-certified volumes, and volumes certified by other schemes) you expect to source or process in the coming 12 months for each crop you select. Use our online calculator tool for an estimation of your volumes.
3. Activities: indicate what activities are applicable to this location.
   • Retailer and Foodservice company must select the activities Retail and Brand Owner.
4. Input: indicate what product(s) are sourced or arrive at this location.
   • Retailer and Foodservice company must select the consumer-ready product.
5. Output: indicate what product(s) exit this location.
   • Retailer and Foodservice company must select the same information as the Input.
6. Traceability: indicate the traceability type of the products handled at this location. Select any type of traceability level applicable to your certification. This is visible on your invoices and shipping documentation. If you don’t know this, please check with your supplier.
7. Certification questions: answer the questions in this section to help us identify your scope. More questions may appear depending on your answers. Some questions are pre-filled based on the information you provided in your profile. If the pre-filled answers are incorrect, you need to update the previous entries. Click ‘Back’ to edit the information you filled in the previous sections of this site.

   Note: if your site has an active chain of custody certificate for another certification scheme, you can upload a copy in this section. This may help lower your verification level.

8. Summary: here you can see a summary of the information you entered so far. If any edits are required, click ‘Back’ to edit the previous entries. If no further edits are required, click ‘Submit’ to continue with the next steps.

Every Certificate Holder must have at least one site. This is the Central Management Location (CML) that you indicated when creating your account. In case of a multi-site certification, you will see the other sites listed here as well. You can also manually add any new sites (see the next paragraph 2.2).

2.2 Multi-site & Subcontractors

If you have a multi-site certification or would like to add any subcontractors to your certification scope, click on the green button ‘Add new site’ in your Certification scope section.

Repeat the actions as illustrated above in paragraph 2.1 in this guide for each site/subcontractor you would like to add.

Note: In case of multiple sites, make sure the management site is selected as Central Management Location. This will appear on your certificate.

2.3. Confirm your certification scope & View requirements

After you added all your sites/subcontractors to your certification scope, you can confirm your scope.

In your ‘Certification scope’ section, click on the green button ‘Confirm scope and view requirements’.

This will generate the requirements applicable to your organization, based on the information entered in your profile.

In the Requirements section, you can review and download an Excel file with all your applicable requirements. Once done, click ‘Back’.

2.4. Calculate your verification levels

Return to your section ‘Certification scope’ and click on the light green button ‘Calculate my verification levels’. This is a mandatory step to make sure the Rainforest Alliance receives the request to calculate your verification (risk) levels, so you can proceed with your certification.

Read the information in the panel ‘Start verification’, follow the instructions and then click ‘Submit’.

The verification level refers to how often and what review processes are needed to assess the risk at a specific site. The Rainforest Alliance certification team will review your profile within three weeks. You will receive your results via email.

Please proceed with requesting or uploading your License Agreement. Follow the steps in chapter 3.

2.5. EUDR

From January 15, 2024, Certificate Holders with coffee and/or cocoa in scope can request data and analysis from Rainforest Alliance certification to support their EUDR (European Union Regulation on Deforestation-free Products) due diligence obligation, by including the EUDR setting into their scope in the Rainforest Alliance Certification Platform (RACP).

2.5.1. Include EUDR option

To include your EUDR option in your certification scope, you need to have a license in status “pending”. You can check the status of your license in the tab ''Certification Overview''.

Log-in to your account on the RACP using this link. Upon logging in, a pop-up window will appear on your Dashboard, if the crops cocoa and/or coffee are in scope: click on the “Go to EUDR Settings” button. Alternatively, you can also access the EUDR Settings button in the following way:

- Navigate to your Certification Overview.

- Click on "Details" for the license currently in "pending" status.

- Locate the “EUDR Settings” button positioned above the Certification scope section.

In the EUDR Settings screen, click on the button “Edit”.

Select “Yes” to add EUDR to your certification scope, read the Terms & Conditions, and when ready click on “Save”.

Your request to add EUDR data to your certification scope is now included. Data on new EUDR-approved licenses will be made available later in the year.

2.5.2. Exclude EUDR option

To exclude your EUDR option from your certification scope, follow the steps below:

Log-in to your account on the RACP using this link.

- Navigate to your Certification Overview.

- Click on "Details" for the license currently in "pending" status.

- Locate the “EUDR Settings” button positioned above the Certification scope section.

- In the EUDR Settings screen, click on the “Edit” button .

- Select “No” and then click “Save”.

- Close the EUDR Settings window.

Your request to add EUDR data to your certification scope is now excluded.

2.6. FAQ: Registration & Certification

3. Legal Agreement (2020 version)

To sign or upload your existing License Agreement, log in to your RACP account and click on the tab Legal.

In the next screen you can set up your legal hierarchy.

• Parent organization: Organization that has controlling interest on one or more organizations.
• Child organization: Organization for which another entity is legally responsible.
• Standalone organization: Organization that is not a subsidiary of and/or is not legally linked to another company.

Select your type of organization and click ‘Continue’.

Click on the button ‘Request your legal agreement’.
In the next screen, you can indicate if you have already an existing (valid) License Agreement.

If you have an existing and valid License Agreement (2020 version), you can upload this in RACP. Click on ‘Yes, I have an existing License Agreement (2020 Version)' and follow the instructions in paragraph 3.1.

If you don’t have an existing License Agreement (2020 version), you can request it in RACP. Click on ‘No, I do not have an existing License Agreement (2020 version)' and follow the steps in paragraph 3.2.

3.1. Upload your existing License Agreement (2020 version)

If your company already has a valid License Agreement (2020 version), follow the steps below:

1) Select “Yes, I have an existing License Agreement (2020 version)”.

2) Upload your document.

3) Click ‘Continue’.

If applicable, include any sublicensees. Approved sublicensees will be covered by your License Agreement. If you don’t have sublicensees, click directly on ‘Send to the Rainforest Alliance’ to submit your request.

Your request is now in status ‘Pending review by the Rainforest Alliance’.

The Rainforest Alliance team will review your request. You will receive feedback via email.

Once your License Agreement has been validated by the Rainforest Alliance, this will show as ‘Valid’ in your Legal tab.

3.2. Sign your new License Agreement

If you have not signed a License Agreement (2020 version) yet, please request and sign this in the RACP. You can sign it with DocuSign in the system directly, if available in your country.

Follow the steps below:

1) Select “No, I do not have an existing License Agreement (2020 version)”.

2) Click ‘Continue’.

In the screen ‘Select who will be part of your legal agreement’:

1) Include any sublicensees. Approved sublicensees will be covered by your License Agreement. If you don’t have sublicensees, skip to step 2.

2) Select the preferred language of your License Agreement.

3) Click ‘Continue'.

To continue with your signature, you have two options:

1) Sign the License Agreement with DocuSign. Follow the steps in paragraph 3.2.1.

2) Sign the License Agreement with wet signature. Follow the steps in paragraph 3.2.2.

Note: If it is not allowed to use electronic signatures in your country, you will see an informative box in the signature fields prompting you to print and sign manually the document. Follow the steps in paragraph 3.2.2 of this user manual.

3.2.1. Sign your new License Agreement with DocuSign

To sign your License Agreement with DocuSign, follow the steps below:

1. Select the language of the DocuSign application (Click ‘Change language’).
2. Tick the box ‘I agree to use electronic records and signatures.’ Then on the yellow button ‘Continue’.
3. Read the document. On page 2 of the License Agreement, select a style for your signature, enter your full name, job title and company address.
4. Repeat step 3 for the second signature block below.
5. When ready, complete the signature process by clicking on the yellow button ‘Finish’.
6. Submit the signed License Agreement: click on the button 'Send to the Rainforest Alliance'.

Your request is now in status ‘Pending review by the Rainforest Alliance’.

The Rainforest Alliance team will now review your request. You will receive feedback via email.

Once your License Agreement has been validated by the Rainforest Alliance, this will show as ‘Valid’ in your Legal tab.

3.2.2. Sign your new License Agreement with wet signature

This option allows you to download, print and sign the License Agreement with wet signature.

Follow the steps below:

1. Select the language of the DocuSign application (Click on ‘Change language’).
2. Tick the box ‘I agree to use electronic records and signatures.’
3. Click ‘Other actions’ (1) and then on ‘Print & Sign’ (2).

1. In the pop-up window, click on ‘Download’ to generate the document in PDF.
2. Print the document and sign it with wet signature. In the same pop-up window, click on ‘Return document’ to upload the signed document. If you have closed the pop-up, or have logged out of the RACP, go back to the Legal tab and repeat steps 3 and 4 to return to the option ‘Return document’.
3. Upload your file and click ‘Finish’.
4. Submit the signed License Agreement: click on the button 'Send to the Rainforest Alliance'.

Your request is now in status ‘Pending review by the Rainforest Alliance’.

The Rainforest Alliance team will now review your request. You will receive feedback via email.

Once your License Agreement has been validated by the Rainforest Alliance, this will show as ‘Valid’ in your Legal tab.

3.3. FAQ: License Agreement

4. Verification levels received: next steps

Based on the results you received in the email with your verification level, you need to prepare for your Endorsement letter, or for your audit.

Follow the steps as indicated below for the site(s) that received:

- Verification Level A: prepare for your Endorsement letter. Go to paragraph 4.1.

- Verification level B to E: prepare for your audit. Go to paragraph 4.2.

4.1. Verification Level A: prepare for your Endorsement Letter

If you received verification level A, this means you are exempt from an audit. You need to proceed with your endorsement process to obtain an Endorsement Letter.

Complete the following steps:

• Download, complete and upload your self-assessment.
• Have a valid License Agreement (2020 version).
• Request Endorsement.

These steps are explained in more detail below.

4.1.1. Download, complete and upload your self-assessment

To download your self-assessment, follow the steps below:

- Go to the section ‘Certification Overview’ and then click on the ‘Details’ button of the license in Pending status.

- Click on the ‘License preparation’ tab.
- In the section ‘self-assessment’, click ‘Open’.

- Download your self-assessment. This contains the requirements applicable to your organization based on the information provided during the registration.

- In the Excel file, fill out column D with “conformity” or “non-conformity” and elaborate in column E what your findings are, to state how your company is complying with each requirement. If you are not complying, please fill in columns G – J explaining what steps and measures have been taken to solve this non-conformity.

- When ready, upload your self-assessment in the same section. Click ‘Upload your file’.

4.1.2. Have a valid License Agreement (2020 version)

Make sure to have a valid License Agreement (2020 version) in the Rainforest Alliance Certification platform (RACP).

If your company already has a valid License Agreement (2020 version), you can upload it to the RACP. If you have not signed a License Agreement (2020 version) yet, you can request and sign this in the RACP.

Follow the steps to sign or upload the License Agreement (2020 version) in the chapter 3 of this manual.

4.1.3. Request Endorsement

Go to your ‘Certification Overview’. On your pending license, click on ‘Details’.

On the right-hand side of the screen, you can see the button ‘Request endorsement’.

Once all required information has been reviewed, the Rainforest Alliance will either reach out to you for further clarifications or issue your Endorsement letter and license to trade.

Once your endorsement letter has been issued, you will receive an email.

Your certificate will be visible under the section ‘Documents’ in the ‘License preparation’ tab.

4.2. Verification level B to E: prepare for your audit

If you receive verification level B to E, this means you need to undergo a certification audit. You need to proceed with your audit process to obtain an audit Certificate.

To start planning your audit, complete the following steps:

• 4.2.1. Download, complete and upload your self-assessment
• 4.2.2. Fill out the Certification Application Form (CAF)
• 4.2.3. Reach out to an authorized Certification Body (CB)
• 4.2.4. Have a valid License Agreement (2020 version)
• 4.2.5. Confirm the contract in RACP (Handshake)

These steps are explained in more detail below.

4.2.1. Download, complete and upload your self-assessment

To download your self-assessment, follow the steps below:

- Go to the section ‘Certification Overview’ and then click on the ‘Details’ button of the license in Pending status.

- Click on the ‘License preparation’ tab.
- In the section ‘self-assessment’, click on ‘Open’.

- Download your self-assessment. This contains the requirements applicable to your organization based on the information provided during the registration.

- In the Excel file, fill out column D with “conformity” or “non-conformity” and elaborate in column E what your findings are, to state how your company is complying with each requirement. If you are not complying, please fill in columns G – J explaining what steps and measures have been taken to solve this non-conformity.

- When ready, upload your self-assessment in this section. Click ‘Upload your file’.

4.2.2. Fill out the CAF

The Certification Application Form (CAF) is a mandatory document to be filled out by Certificate Holders and Certification Bodies along the Certification Process.

Download the latest version of your CAF in the RACP (in the Certification Body section, see screenshot below) or on the Rainforest Alliance website here.

Make sure you use the correct document named Supply chain.

Fill out the red tab 1. Application form.

4.2.3. Reach out to an authorized Certification Body (CB)

You need to sign a certification agreement with a selected CB. You can find a list of authorized CBs here and request a quote.

Please send the following documentation to your CB:

- Certification Application Form (CAF).

- Your self-assessment filled out as per instructions.

- Your email with the verification level results.

4.2.4. Have a valid License Agreement (2020 version)

Please make sure that you have a valid License Agreement (2020 version) in the Rainforest Alliance Certification platform (RACP).

If your company already has a valid License Agreement (2020 version), you can upload it to the RACP. If you have not signed a License Agreement (2020 version) yet, you can request and sign this in the RACP.

Follow the steps to sign or upload the License Agreement (2020 version) in the chapter 3 of this manual.

4.2.5. Confirm the contract in RACP (Handshake)

After you have signed a certification agreement with your CB, you need to confirm this in the RACP. This step will give the CB access to the necessary information in your profile.

There are two ways to do this, as illustrated below.

Send a request to your CB

To send a request to your CB, follow the steps below:

- Go to the tab ‘Certification Overview’, click on the ‘Details’ button of the license in Pending status.

- Click on your ‘License preparation’ tab;

- In the section ‘Your Certification Body’, click on ‘Open’

- A list of authorized Certification Bodies will appear. Click on ‘Confirm contract’ next to the name of the CB you have signed a contract with.

- The CB will receive your request. Until this is confirmed, the status of your request will be Awaiting response.

- When your CB accepts your request, your contract with your CB is officially signed in the RACP.

Receive a request from your CB.

If your CB has sent you a contract request, follow the steps below:

- Go to the tab ‘Certification Overview’, click on the ‘Details’ button of the license in Pending status.

- Go to your 'License preparation' tab.

- In the section ‘Your Certification Body’, click on the button ‘Open’.

- You will see an invitation from your CB. Click on the green button ‘View invitation’.

- In the panel on the right-hand side, click on ‘Yes, we have signed the contract’, and then on ‘Accept Invitation’.

- Your contract with your CB is now officially signed in the RACP.

4.3. FAQ: Verification level

5. Renew your Certificate/License

You receive a notification 6 months before your license expires. This means you need to make sure you renew your certification and/or license before this expires.

Below you can find the main steps to take in the RACP to renew your certification.

5.1. Update and confirm your scope

Login to your account at this link with your username and password.

A pop-up message will appear 6 months before your current license expires. Click Yes to start renewing your certification.

Your certification scope is copied from your previous certification scope, so you do not need to enter all information again. Click on the tab ‘Certification Overview’.

In the license in status pending click on ‘Details’ to go to your ‘Certification scope’ section.

In your certification scope, you can find a copy of the site(s) in your previous license.

Make sure to verify the existing information in your site(s) and update it if required (for example new crops, farms, sites, activities, traceability levels etc. you want to include), by clicking on the button ‘Edit’ on the right-hand side of your site.

Follow the instructions in chapter 2 of this user manual for more guidance.

When ready, confirm your certification scope by clicking on ‘Confirm scope and view requirements’ in your ‘Certification scope’.

This will generate the requirements applicable to your organization, based on the information entered in your profile.

In the Requirements section, you can review and download an Excel file with all your applicable requirements. Once done, click on the button ‘Back’.

5.2. Calculate your verification levels

Return to your section ‘Certification scope’ and click on the light green button ‘Calculate my verification levels’. This is a mandatory step to make sure the Rainforest Alliance receives the request to calculate your verification (risk) levels, so you can proceed with your re-certification.

Read the information in the panel ‘Start verification’, follow the instructions and then click ‘Submit’.

The Rainforest Alliance certification team will review your profile within 3 weeks. You will receive your results via email.

5.3. Verification levels received: next steps

Based on the results you received in the email with your verification level, you need to prepare for your endorsement letter/license, or for your audit.

To renew your Endorsement license/certificate, follow the steps in paragraph 4.1.

To renew your CB audit license/certificate, follow the steps in paragraph 4.2.

5.4. FAQ: Certification renewal

6. Organization: Users & Contacts

In this chapter you can find instructions on how to add, edit and delete users and contacts in your RACP account.

6.1. Users

In the tab Organization, click on Users to view, edit or add new users.

Every user can be assigned different roles, based on their activities and responsibilities in the RACP.

By default, the person who has registered the account is assigned with all three roles (Finance, Administrator, User).

Besides the above-mentioned user roles, users who work with Claims approval requests can assume one of the following roles: 

6.1.1. Add new user

To add a new user, click on ‘Users’ and use the button ‘Add New User’. Complete the form, including the designated role(s) as explained above. By default, a new user will have the basic role ‘User’.

6.1.2. Edit user

Administrators can edit the user’s information, such as name, surname, email address and roles. To do so, click on the user and update the required information.

Multiple users can have the role ‘Finance’ and ‘Administrator’.

If applicable, as Administrator, you can remove your Finance role by clicking on your name and de-activate the corresponding tick-box, after you have assigned the Finance role to a different user.

6.1.3. Delete user

To delete a user, click on the user’s name and then on the button ‘Delete’. In the pop up, click ‘Confirm’.

6.2. Contacts

In the tab Organization, click on ‘Contacts’ to view, edit or add new contacts.

An employee registered as User is automatically also listed as a Contact.

When you add an employee as Contact, this is to indicate their responsibility in your organization, that may be relevant for the Rainforest Alliance or a Certification Body, and does not automatically assign them a user role in RACP.

6.2.1. Add new contact

To add a new contact, click on ‘Add new contact’. Fill in the form with the required information and save contact.

Click again on the newly created contact’s name and then go to the section ‘Contact type’. Here you can assign their contact type (Admin, Billing) for the organization and each site/subcontractor you have registered.

6.2.2. Delete contact

To delete a contact, click on the contact you want to delete. A panel will open, click on the red button ‘Delete contact’.

Confirm the pop-up by clicking on ‘Delete’ and the contact is removed from your account.

6.3. User in multiple accounts

It is possible to be a user active in multiple accounts. To keep one username for all accounts, we recommend you use the same e-mail address (and username) when going through the registration process for all Certificate Holders for which you need access in RACP.

When accessing RACP with your username linked to more than one accounts, you can select for which organization you want to login.

If you are logged in already, you can switch to another account. Go to your Dashboard tab, and click on the orange text (-> Click here to change) on the top right corner.

7. Finance

To access your Finance information, click on the tab ‘Finance’ in the RACP.

In the Finance tab you can see:

• Fees: in this section you can find the overview of the Royalty fees you need to pay.
• Invoices: in this section you can find the overview of all your Royalties fees (paid and pending payment).
• Re-assignments: in this section you can set up the reassignments of royalty fees. Only applicable to coffee. See paragraph 7.1. below for more information.

7.1 Invoice Reassignment (Coffee only)

The Rainforest Alliance Certification Platform (RACP) has the possibility for companies to assign the invoice for the royalty to suppliers, purchasers, or registered companies in the supply chain. More information on the royalty can be found here.

The instructions below will guide you in the invoice reassignment process in RACP.

7.1.1. Types of Invoice Reassignment

7.1.2. Reassignment Requests

To access the Invoice Reassignment, log in to your RACP account and go to the tab ‘Finance’.

Go to the ‘Re-assignments’ tab. Here you will see two sections:

• Requests Raised: Shows the Pending and Active Invoice Reassignments processed by the Account. This section is only for the accounts who have logged the agreement for reassignment with another account.
• Requests Received: Shows the Pending and Active invoice reassignments received by the account to confirm. This section is only for the accounts who have received the agreement for reassignment from another account.

Set up a new reassignment

1. Go to Request Raised.
2. Click on the Pending button.
3. Click on the New Reassignment Request button.

To add a Reassignment Agreement, fill in the mandatory details (red asterisks) in the window pop-up:

Once the Reassignment Agreement is added, the Certificate Holders who received the reassignment request needs to confirm the process. The agreement will be visible in the section ‘Re-assignments’. Under ‘Requests Raised’, you will see the request Pending until the other party has confirmed it.

Withdraw a pending request

1. Go to Request Raised.
2. Click on the Pending button.
3. Click on the Withdraw button.

Accept or reject a pending request

1. Go to Request Received.
2. Click on the Pending button.
3. Click on the Accept/Reject button.

Revoke an accepted request

1. Go to Request Raised.
2. Click on the Active button.
3. Click on the Revoke button.

7.2. Invoicing

The RACP calculates the applicable charged royalty over the billing cycle (e.g. monthly for coffee royalty) and bills it accordingly at the end of the cycle.

When an account has selected any of the Invoice Reassignment types in RACP, the Invoice lines are debited and then accordingly credited.

7.3. FAQ: Finance

8. Glossary

The table below lists the most frequently used terms and abbreviations and their significance for working with RACP. Understanding these terms is necessary to accurately complete your registration.

See also our online glossary, for an explanation of the terminology you will find within the Rainforest Alliance 2020 Certification Program's documents and tools.

9. Change history