This guide walks you step by step through how to determine your next audit due date. based on:
Your verification level
Your last audit date
Your certificate and license expiration dates
Year in license cycle under v1.3
Use also our new tool: New Certificate End Date Calculator
Step 1: Identify Your Verification Level
Start by identifying the verification level you have received after 1 August 2025.
Level B
If you have a single site certificate holder and received verification level B or are a multi-site with at least one site receiving level B.
Next audit is due by:
3 years from your last audit start date (remote or onsite), OR
By your certificate expiration date
Whichever comes first
Level C
If you have a single site and received verification level C or are a multi-site with at least one site receiving level C.
Next audit is due by:
2 years from your last audit start date (remote or onsite), OR
By your certificate expiration date
Whichever comes first
Important Note for First SAS v1.4 Audit: The first audit under the Sustainable Agriculture Standard v1.4 must include all Level B and Level C sites when determining the audit sample.
Step 2: Check Your License Year in the Old RACP
If You Are in Year 1 or Year 2:
Check the start date of your last audit
Check your Sustainable Agriculture Standard v1.3 certificate expiration date
Confirm your new verification level (granted after 1 August 2025)
Apply the General Rule above to determine your next audit due date
Example Scenario (Year 1 or 2)
CH type: Multi-site
New verification levels: A, B, and C
Certificate validity: 25 Nov 2023 – 24 Nov 2026
Last audit start date: 15 Oct 2024
Audit calculation: See New Certificate End Date Calculator
2 years from last audit = 15 Oct 2026
Certificate expires = 24 Nov 2026
Next audit due date = 15 Oct 2026 (because it is earlier)
If You Are in Year 3 & Certificate and License Expire Between 1 Oct 2025 and 31 March 2026
Audit needs to have a start date between 9–15 months from the start date of the last license
Example:
License & certificate expire: 15 Dec 2025
Audit window: 15 Sep 2025 – 15 Mar 2026
Which RACP applies?
Audit start date before March 31st 2026 → old RACP
Audit start date after March 31st 2026 → preparations must begin under the new RACP
If You Are in Year 3 & Certificate and License Expire After 31 March 2026
Apply the General Rule:
2 or 3 years from last audit start date, OR
Certificate expiration, whichever is earlier
Step 3: Consider your situation based on the version of RACP you are using
If You Are in Year 1 or Year 2:
Certificate Holders using the old RACP
If:
You received new verification levels in the old RACP QoI will issue a temporary license
Temporary license expires on your next audit due date
You may conduct your SAS v1.4 audit at any time before that date, but audits must start no later than March 31st, 2026, and follow the Phased Implementation Policy.
Certificate Holders using the new RACP
Certificate holders need to fill in site questions and certification scope, fill in CAF and share it with their CB
The Certification Body will request an extension and may need to adjust the certificate end date in the new RACP
Time Extensions — Are They Still Allowed?
✔ Yes, but only under specific conditions
CBs may request a temporary 3-month time extension from the scheduled audit date
The audit must be scheduled before the audit due date in order for these to be considered
Examples
✔ Allowed
Audit due: 12 April 2026
Audit scheduled: 4 April 2026
Extension granted until: 4 July 2026
✘ Not Allowed
Audit scheduled after 12 April 2026
CH is treated as a new CH
No extension granted
Once the new certificate is issued, the extension is automatically removed.