Getting Certified as a Supply Chain Actor

1. Completing Organization Setup

To apply for Rainforest Alliance Certification, you must first provide some foundational information about your organization. On your MyRA dashboard, look for the tiles labelled “Organization Structure” and “Sites.” Completing these sections is required before you can unlock and begin the certification application process.

Follow the steps below to complete the setup.

1.1 Organization Structure Input

In this section, you will provide an overview of how your organization and operations are structured. This helps the Certification Body understand the scope of the audit involved for quotation purposes.

You will be guided through key fields to complete, including:

• Legal representative – Who legally represents your organization?

• Workers – How many people work in your operations?

Providing clear and complete information here is essential, where possible please provide the most accurate estimates for the upcoming cycles as the information will be used on your Certificate Application Form (CAF).

To begin, click the green arrow icon on the tile.

In the window that opens, you will be asked to complete the two key areas listed on the left of the page, beginning with the Legal Representative section.

Step 1: Legal Representative

• Legal Representative: Under “Owner or Legal Representative,” select the appropriate email address from the dropdown menu. This person is the legal contact for your organization.

• Certification Administrator: In the “Certification Administrator” section, choose the email address of the person responsible for managing certification activities in the system.

Once both roles are assigned, click “Next” to continue.

You’ll be directed to the Workers page to complete the next step in the setup process.

Step 2: Workers

Now, enter the number of workers involved in your supply chain organization operations. Provide a general estimated number of workers.

Note: Please remember that the number cannot both be set to zero.

Click on "Finish" button. You will be directed to the dashboard page with the status of the Organization structure showing "Completed”.

1.2 Sites Input

The third and final tile in the organization setup process is the Sites tile. This is to record all the operational sites involves with your organization and their associated crops.

Every Supply Chain Certificate Holder must register at least one site in their profile. This site serves as the Central Management Location (CML), the main location where your certification activities are managed. It’s a required step for confirming your certification scope.

Follow the steps below to make sure your site information is complete, accurate, and aligned with your operational setup.

Begin by Clicking the arrow icon to open the Sites tile.

Step 1: Add First Site

In the window that opens, you are required to add the sites that are part of your organization. Click on the “Add first site” tab.

In the General Information section, fill in all required fields marked with an asterisk (*), along with any optional details you’d like to include:

• Site name*

• National ID (if applicable)

• Address*

• Country (select from the dropdown)

• City / State

Once all necessary information is entered, click “Next” to continue.

Note: The checkbox for “Is this a Central Management Location” is selected by default. Each organization must have one Central Management Location (CML) in place to proceed with certification.

You can update or change the Central Management Location (CML) later if needed.

When creating a new site, you can mark it as the CML by checking the box, this will automatically remove the designation from the previously selected site as below:

Step 2: Crops

On the Crops page, click the “Add Crop” button. From the dropdown menu, select the crop that will be certified and applies to your site, for example, avocado, cocoa, or any other relevant option.

Next, select the variety of the crop and choose all relevant activities that apply to your site, for example: farming, warehousing, or trading. Then, select the appropriate traceability level for the crop.

Once all selections are complete, click “Confirm” to save the crop details.

The page will refresh, and you will now see your newly added site, along with the selected crop, its variety, and associated activities. Repeat process for additional crops and/or varieties seeking to certify in scope.

Click “Finish” to save your site setup.

To add more sites to your organization, go back to the Sites page, click on “add another site” and go through the same steps above.

You can add as many sites as you need to.

Note: Editing Crop information is not possible. If you need to make changes to a crop, you will have to delete the existing one and re-create a new crop entry with the correct information.

Now that you have entered all the certification-related information, you are ready to move on.

2. Getting Started with Certification for Supply Chain Actors

Once your organization is setup and the pre-requisite steps have been completed on your MyRA dashboard, you will notice the Certification tile is now “Unlocked”. You can begin your certification journey by clicking on the arrow icon on the “Certification” tile in the dashboard.

Note: Please ensure your relevant users have been given the correct “Certification” role before accepting the Certification Terms & Conditions.

Hint: If the certification tile still appears locked as per below image, make sure you complete the pre-requisite steps by following the “MyRA Quick Start for all Users” guide.

The pre-requisite setup inputs can be found in this section of the MyRA dashboard only visible to organization Administrators, as below. The status tags are either shown as “To do” or “Complete”.

2.1 Accepting Certification Terms & Conditions

Before you begin the certification process, you will be prompted to review and accept the Certification Terms & Conditions if you wish to proceed with any certification-related services.

These terms relate specifically to your use of the online platforms that support the certification system.

They describe:

• How your organization may access and use the platform

• Responsibilities for secure login and appropriate use

• System availability and what happens if your access is suspended

On this screen, review the agreement carefully. Once you are ready, check the box next to the agreement and click “Sign Up” to confirm.

You will then be taken to your Rainforest Alliance Certification Dashboard, where you can begin completing the tasks required for certification.

2.2 MyRA Certification Overview

Your Certification Overview page is designed to guide you step by step through the certification journey.

Each “tile” represents a specific task or set of requirements you will need to complete along the way. Tiles include short descriptions to help you understand what is expected and what actions to take.

This guide will walk you through each step.

Registration Section

When you land on the Certification Overview page you will find the various sections of tiles where your input is required, starting with the “Registration” section.

Here, your task is to review and verify that all information relating to the organization structure and sites is accurate. If anything has changed or needs correcting, now is the time to update it.

Follow the steps below to confirm your registration information and proceed with certification.

2.3 Review Your Organization Structure

Ensure the legal representative is correct and the number of workers is accurate.

A worker is a person who performs labor in return for a monetary amount. A worker encompasses all types of persons working irrespective of their contractual status, such as permanent, temporary, seasonal, migrant, piece rate workers, documented, undocumented, as well as hired through a labor provider, persons in training, group management staff, including interns and apprentices, and also persons temporarily absent from a job or enterprise at which they recently worked for illness, parental leave, holiday, training, or industrial dispute

Once the information is reviewed you can click on the “Finish” button.

You will be returned to the MyRA dashboard, simply click the “Certification” tile again to access the Certification Overview page and continue.

2.3 Review and Confirm Sites

The next step in your certification journey is to review and confirm the sites linked to your organization.

From your Certification Dashboard, click on the “Sites” tile. This opens the Sites page, where you will see a list of any sites already entered by the organization administrator.

What is a Site?

In the Rainforest Alliance Certification Program, a site is referred to as any physical location where certification-related activities take place.

This may include:

• A headquarters or office

• A processing or packing facility

• Any location where certified products are stored, handled or interacted with

Every certified organization must register at least one site, and one of them must be designated as the Central Management Location (CML), the site responsible for overseeing and managing certification activities. The CML will be designated by a star on the sites page.

Note: If your organization only has one site, it will automatically be marked as the Central Management Location (CML). If you have multiple sites, you can assign the CML by checking the box on the General Information page when entering or editing a site.

How to Add and Manage Sites

On the Sites page, you can:

• Add a new site by clicking the “+ Add Site” button in the top right corner

• Edit any existing site by clicking the pencil icon next to it

• Delete an existing site

Each site will require you to provide general information such as:

• Name

• Address

• Country and location details

Add Crops to a Site

Once the general information is saved, you will need to ensure there are associated crops with each site.

1. Click the “+ Add crop” button

2. In the pop-up, select the applicable crop from the drop-down list

3. Enter the required details about your activities related to that crop

These fields vary depending on the type of crop selected.

Repeat this process to add all relevant crops or crop variant for the site.

Varieties cannot be edited once a crop has been created, if the variety needs to change you will need to delete the crop and create a new one with the correct Variety. However, you can still edit the activities and traceability levels for a crop.

If you have multiple varieties of the same crop, create an individual crops for each variety.

When finished creating or editing sites you’re brought back to the Sites overview page and when you click “Leave” you’re taken back to the MyRA Dashboard. Simply click on the “Certification” tile to go back into the Certification overview page. The sites tile should now display a tag “complete”.

Now that the site data has been captured ready to move on to the next step – completing your Supply Chain Risk Assessment.

2.4 Complete the Supply Chain Risk Assessment

You must now complete a Site Supply Chain Risk Assessment for each of your listed sites.

This step ensures that key site-specific risks are documented for evaluation ahead of the audit and certification process.

How to Complete the Risk Assessment:

1. From MyRA dashboard, click on the Certification tile.

2. In the Certification overview page click the “Complete Certification Scope” tile.

3. You will be presented with Terms and conditions for the RACP. Review the terms and conditions and accept them by checking the box and then clicking on “Sign up” button.

4. From there you will be directed to the Rainforest Alliance Certification Platform (RACP) Dashboard.

5. In the dashboard, click on the “Sites” tab in the top navigation bar.

6. You will see a table displaying all the sites linked to your organization.

7. For each site click the “page” icon on the left side of the row, this opens the Site Data page.

8. In the top navigation bar, select the “Site Questions” tab.

9. You will now see a list of “Site Certification Questions” related to supply chain risk and operational context.

10. Use the dropdown lists to select the most appropriate answers for each question.

11. Repeat this process for every site listed under your organization.

All questions for each site must be completed before you can proceed to finalize your Certification Scope.

Once the supply chain risk assessments are completed for each site and saved, you can continue with the next step: Signing a License Agreement with Rainforest Alliance

2.5 License Agreement

This agreement grants your organization the right to participate in the Rainforest Alliance Certification Program and to use the Rainforest Alliance name and trademarks under specific conditions.

By signing it, your organization agrees to:

• Comply with the Binding Documents, which include the License Terms and Conditions, applicable standards, rules, and policies (viewable here)

• Only use the Rainforest Alliance marks with prior approval and in line with the requirements

• Notify Rainforest Alliance of any misuse or infringement related to its trademarks

• Comply with relevant trade control laws, and cooperate fully with Rainforest Alliance if needed

• Pay royalties or fees if applicable, based on your business model and product transactions

Begin by opening the License Agreement tile.

You will land on a License agreement page in the Organization page, click the “Sign a License Agreement” button to review the agreement.

You may then check the box confirming you agree with the content in the Agreement and submit. This agreement can always be accessed at any time through your organization dashboard.

The License Agreement is a mandatory requirement. Without it your certification process cannot be finalized, and the certificate will not be awarded.

If you have questions about the agreement, you can get in touch with Customer Success at customersuccess@ra.org

2.6 Completing the Certification Scope

Your certification scope defines:

• The sites and activities you are certifying.

• The products or crops you handle.

• The traceability levels applicable to your operations.

• The estimated annual volumes you are responsible for.

This information will be shared with your selected Certification Body if you qualify for an audit and will form the foundation for the audit planning and quotation.

Step 1: Open RACP

From the MyRA Dashboard click the “Certification” tile to access the Certification overview page

Locate the Application section and click the tile labelled “Complete Certification Scope”.

After clicking “Complete Certification Scope” you will be directed to the Rainforest Alliance Certification Platform (RACP) where you will be logged in automatically provided you have the Certificate Role assigned to your profile in MyRA.

Step 2: Complete the Certification form

In the Rainforest Alliance Certification Platform (RACP):

• Go to the “Certification Preparation” section

• Click on “Certification Scope”

• A form will open, displaying several sections on the right-hand side already pre-populated with the data you inputted from MyRA (e.g., your sites, crops, and activities).

Note: Do not alter the pre-filled data, if there are any corrections in the data to be made please contact Customer Success at customersuccess@ra.org. Changes here could affect the accuracy of your certification information.

• Review all fields. Make sure everything is accurate.

• Action Required: Be sure to fill in the “Threshold” column in the Crops table, indicating whether your organization handles more or less than the Rainforest Alliance Certified volumes for each crop. This includes all crop volumes handled by your organization, even those not within the Rainforest Alliance certification scope. You can refer to the volume threshold guidance here.

Explanation of X means you pressed No in the question  

• When complete, click “Save and Validate” at the top of the form.

• If you have any errors on the form a red warning block will appear indicating what the error is, if you click on the error it will take you to the question where the error exists for you to resolve.

• If everything is correctly completed, a green confirmation message will appear.

• Next, click “Submit” in the bottom right to be taken to another page.

• On the next page, enter any comments if you have any, and confirm that your information is truthful by checking the box, finally complete by clicking the “Submit” button.

2.7 Certification Pathway

After submitting your Certification Scope, it will be processed. This may take between 5 and 15minutes.

Once the processing of your Scope is complete, you will receive an email from Rainforest Alliance titled “Certification Scope Submission Confirmation" confirming your certification pathway and providing you the steps to follow based on the risk ratings:

Audit (Risk level B-C) or Endorsement (Risk level A).

For a detailed description of the Supply Chain Risk Assessment and how the relevant pathway is determined please refer to the “Certification Process & Timelines” manual.

The process for you to follow for both pathways is described in more detail in the sections below.

2.7.1 Certification Through Audit

If your organization receives a supply chain risk level of B or C, you will follow the Audit route.

This involves:

• Completing the Certification Application Form (CAF)

• Contracting with an approved Certification Body

• Undergoing an external audit to verify compliance

• Receiving a Certificate upon successful verification

This certificate confirms that your operations meet the Rainforest Alliance certification standards and allows use of the Rainforest Alliance trademarks.

For detailed instructions, please go to the section “3. Apply for New Certification with Audit”.

If you have questions about the pathways or risk levels you can reach out to Customer Success at customersuccess@ra.org

2.7.2 Certification Through Endorsement

If your organization is assessed as low risk level A, you are eligible for certification via Endorsement.

In this case:

• You will complete a Self-Assessment based on the Sustainable Agriculture Standard

• Rainforest Alliance will review your submission internally

• If the information cannot be fully verified, you may be redirected to the Audit route

• If approved, you will receive an Endorsement Letter instead of a certificate, this Endorsement Letter affords the organization with the same rights and responsibilities under certification as the Certificate does.

The Endorsement Letter formally confirms your compliance with Rainforest Alliance Sustainability Standards against which you are assessed, enabling you to trade certified products and use the Rainforest Alliance trademarks where applicable.

For a more detailed description of getting certified through Endorsement you can go to the section “4. Apply for new certification with Endorsement” below.

If you have questions about the pathways or risk levels you can reach out to Customer Success at customersuccess@ra.org

2.7.3 How to Proceed with Certification

Once you receive your email with your assigned pathway:

1. Log in to MyRA portal and enter the Certification overview page

2. Go to the “Application” section of your Certification Dashboard

3. Use the toggle button underneath to select either Audit or Endorsement

4. Follow the relevant steps displayed to proceed with your certification

3. Apply for New Certification with Audit

Note: only read this section if your email from Rainforest Alliance indicated you to follow the Audit approach to Certification. If you are eligible for Certification through Endorsement you can skip ahead to that section.

3.1 Application and Contracting

The Certification Application and contracting with a Certification Body are closely linked in the sense that the application form contains the data relating to scope that the Certification Body uses to quote you for the audit.

3.1.1 Process Overview

Below is a high-level overview of the steps involved in choosing a Certification Body and applying for certification. Be sure to note which actions take place within the Rainforest Alliance Certification Platform (RACP) and which are handled off-platform. A detailed step-by-step guide can be found in the next section.

1. Complete the Certification Application Form (CAF) (in RACP)

   • Finalize and submit your CAF to summarize your certification details.

2. View the list of authorized Certification Bodies in your region (in RACP)

   • The CAF will display a list of Certification Bodies eligible to perform an audit in your region and for your scope (crop, activity).

3. Select and contact a Certification Body (off platform)

   • Review the available Certification Bodies listed in the CAF and reach out via phone or email using the information in your downloaded CAF to request a quote.

4. Agree on a quote and sign a contract (off platform)

   • All pricing discussions and contract agreements take place directly with your chosen Certification Body.

5. Return to the platform to initiate a Handshake (in RACP)

   • Once a contract is in place, log back into MyRA with your credentials and navigate to the RACP to initiate the Handshake and give the Certification Body access to your certification data.

3.1.2 Complete and Submit Certification Application Form (CAF)

Once you have submitted your Certification Scope, the next step is to complete the Certification Application Form (CAF). This form consolidates all your organization’s information into a structured summary for Certification Bodies to review and use during the quotation and audit planning process.

Step 1: Access the CAF

• Log into the Rainforest Alliance Certification Platform (RACP)

• From the Dashboard, locate the “Certification Preparation” section

• Click on the row titled “Certification Application Form”

Step 2: Complete the Form

You will now be directed to a questionnaire-based form with fields that require responses.

• Scroll through the form to review and update the required fields

• On the right-hand side, complete the checklist section to confirm that all required details have been reviewed

• When ready, click “Save and Validate” in the top task bar.

• Any outstanding fields or questions will be highlighted in red to you, simply click the red warning bar and it will show you the fields to complete.

If all information is entered correctly, you will see a green confirmation message that everything is in order. As below:

Then click “Submit Form” button at the bottom right of the page to finalize your application.

Enter any additional comments applicable to your Certificate Application, then check the Confirmation box and click “Submit” again.

Step 3: Download Your CAF Document

After submitting, return to your RACP Dashboard and go to the “Documents” menu.

There, you will find a downloadable PDF titled “Rainforest Alliance Certification Application”, This document compiles all the information you have submitted and will be helpful during the quotation phase with Certification Bodies.

• Click and Check the box on the left of the line to select the document

• Then, click the “Download” icon in the top right task bar

3.1.3 Selecting an Authorized Certification Body (CB)

Once you have submitted your Certification Application Form (CAF), the next step is to select a Certification Body to engage with for quotes to perform the audit.

Your CAF contains a list of authorized Certification Bodies eligible to certify your organization in the section highlighted below.

You may request quotes from several Certification Bodies and contract with the one that best fits your needs.

Steps to engage with a Certification Body:

• Find the contact details of the Certification Bodies, you can search for them in this section of the Knowledge Hub.

• Share your CAF with them to request a quote based on your certification scope.

• You and the selected CB will handle all pricing discussions and contractual agreements directly, outside of the platform.

• Once the contract is in place, you will return to the platform to initiate a Handshake and formally connect with your Certification Body.

3.1.4 Complete the “Handshake” with Certification Body

Once you have signed a contract with your preferred Certification Body outside the platform, the next step is to register this agreement inside the Platform. This process is known as the Handshake.

The handshake is a critical step that enables secure data sharing between your organization and the Certification Body. Without completing this step, your selected Certification Body cannot access your application or begin planning the audit.

Handshake Process

Here is what happens during and after the handshake is completed:

1. Certificate Holder Initiates Handshake in RACP

   • You are responsible for initiating the handshake in the platform. This grants your selected Certification Body access to your organization’s profile, including your submitted application and indicator data.

2. Contract Confirmation by Certification Body

   • Once the handshake is initiated, the Certification Body will get access to your data and can begin reviewing the information you have submitted so far.

3. Audit Preparation

   • With access to your profile, the Certification Body can prepare for your audit, using accurate data and documentation provided through the platform they will create and Audit Order – this confirms the contracting is in place in the system and blocks the ability to change certification bodies for the specified years, in accordance with the Certification and Auditing Rules for Supply Chain.

Step 1- Initiate the Handshake

Follow these steps to initiate the handshake from within RACP:

1. Log into MyRA and navigate to the “Certification” tile under the “Recommended Services” section. Click to open it and then click on the “Complete Certification Scope” tile again – this will take you to RACP.

2. Inside the Rainforest Alliance Certification Platform. At the top of the screen in the task bar, click on the “Contracts” menu.

3. In the Contracts tab, click the “page” icon in the line for “Sustainable Agriculture Standard” to open the contract form.

4. In the pop-up form:

   • Click the person icon in the pop-up window.

• Then in the next window search the name of the Certification Body you have contracted with

• Select the relevant service - Sustainable Agriculture Standard [Supply Chain] from the dropdown (if not already selected)

• Enter the year of contract, contract start date, and contract end date of the service period (3 years after start)

• Click “Save and Close” at the top of the page to complete the step

Step 2 – Confirming the "Handshake”

The handshake will now be sent to your Certification Body for confirmation. Once they create the Audit Order, your handshake is complete, and their access to your certification profile is activated.

Note: Once the Audit Order is created the system will no longer let you change Certification Bodies within the specified contract period. For more information refer to the Certification and Audting Rules for Supply Chain

Step 3 – Planning an audit date

With access to your data stored in RACP the Certification Body can now begin planning your audit. This will involve them creating an Audit Plan for executing the Audit activities.

Note: In some countries (such as Ghana), Rainforest Alliance staff may pre-assign a Certification Body to your profile. In that case, the suggested Certification Bodies shown in your application are already eligible. You will still need to initiate the handshake yourself to activate the contract.

3.2 Audit and Certification Process

3.2.1 Accepting an Audit Plan

After you have completed the Handshake with a Certification Body and they have reviewed your information, they will prepare an audit plan.
This plan explains how they will carry out your audit and will be sent to you directly (not through the platform).

The plan contains the following information:

• Planned dates for the audit

• The planned audit duration

• Activities for the duration

• Sample of sites planned for audit

You will need to:

• Review the plan carefully.

• Either approve it or request changes if necessary.

Once you both agree on the plan, the Certification Body will conduct the audit.

Note: All Communication around audit planning happens outside the platform, directly between you and the Certification Body.

3.2.2 Audit Process and Submit Corrective Actions

Once contracted, the Certification Body (CB) will plan and carry out an independent audit of your operations in accordance with the agreed plan.

The audit may involve:

• An opening meeting

• Reviewing your submitted data in RACP and other documentation

• Visiting your sites (for physical checks) and conducting interviews

• Verifying implementation of sustainability practices and system controls

• Identifying any non-conformities and requesting corrective actions, if needed.

For further details and breakdown of the specifics relating to the audit and it is rules you can refer to this section of the Knowledge Hub.

At this point in your audit process, the Certification Body has completed the audit to evaluate if your organization meets the requirements of the Rainforest Alliance standards you chose.

If they found non-conformities to the requirements, you will need to:

1. Explain what corrections you will take to fix the non-conformities

2. Analyze the root cause of the non-conformity (root cause analysis in our rules)

3. Share how you plan to implement the corrective action

The Certification Body will verify that the evidence submitted is sufficient to close the non-conformities. They may also ask you to provide evidence that the issues have been resolved.

You need to submit both your root cause analysis, correction and corrective action through the RACP platform.

To submit these, follow the steps below.

Step 1- Log into the RACP Platform

Log into the RACP platform.

• On your dashboard, go to the “Findings” section. In this section, you will see the audit report/findings generated by the auditor after your audit. It details areas of conformities and non-conformities during the audit.

• Double-click the findings associated with your audit. This will open the detailed view of the report

Step 2- Review the Audit Findings

Read through the report. At each requirement where your organization was not in compliance, you are expected to provide input for these sections:

• Root Cause Analysis: Here you provide the underlying reason why the non-conformity occurred. It goes beyond the immediate issue to identify the systemic or process-level failure that allowed the problem to happen.

• Correction: Here you provide the immediate action you will take to fix the non-conformity and bring the situation back into compliance

• Corrective Action: Here you provide a long-term solution that addresses the root cause to prevent recurrence of the non-conformity

See the sections in the image below:

Step 3- Submit Corrective Action and Upload Files

The platform allows for the attachment of files to be shared with Certification Bodies.

For example: to provide proof of correction for a non-conformity, you can attach various types of supporting documents or images that demonstrate the issue has been addressed. These attachments help Certification Bodies verify that the correction has been effectively implemented.

• Use the "Files tab” to upload the files you want to attach to the findings

Once you have provided all necessary information, you need to submit it to your Certification body.

• This is done by selecting the option of “submit corrective action” from the dropdown pane at the top right-hand corner of your screen as illustrated in the picture above and click on the “Execute” button to submit the files.

You will notice when you go back to your dashboard that the finding you reviewed has disappeared off your dashboard. It will now be available to your Certification body to review.

The Certification body will communicate directly with you for any further supporting documents, adjustments or positive decisions to the submission of your corrective actions. Should the review be successful and the non-conformity be closed you can move on to the next step of viewing the certificate.

3.2.3 View My Certificate

This section will show you how to quickly access and view your certification details through the platform. Whether you need to check your certificate’s status, confirm key dates, or download a copy for sharing, this guide will walk you through the steps to find everything you need in one place.

Follow these simple steps to view and download your certificate:

1. Log in to your MyRA platform using your usual credentials.

2. Once you are on your dashboard, look for the section “Recommend Services.”

3. Click on the “Certification” tile, this will take you to your certification details.

1. A new window will open, this takes you to the certification platform, RACP.

2. Once you are on the RACP dashboard, simply scroll down until you see the “Certificates” section highlighted below.

3. In the “Certificates” section, find the certificate you want to download.

4. Click the Download button, it is the first icon in the row, marked with a medal symbol.

5. Your certificate will be downloaded directly to your device as a PDF.

Note: Your certificate includes a QR code. You can scan it with a mobile device to quickly view your certificate on another screen, perfect for sharing or quick reference!

4. Apply for new certification with Endorsement

After completing your Certification Scope, you may receive an email from Rainforest Alliance confirming that your organization qualifies for certification via Endorsement rather than the standard Audit path.

This means your organization has been assessed as low risk (Risk Level A) through the Supply Chain Risk Assessment (SCRA) and does not require a full third-party audit. Instead, you will complete a Self-Assessment, which will be reviewed directly by Rainforest Alliance.

If approved, you will receive an Endorsement Letter, formal recognition that your operations meet Rainforest Alliance certification requirements. Unlike a certificate, which is issued after a full audit and allows use of the Rainforest Alliance Certified trademarks, the Endorsement Letter has the same validity as a Certificate. It confirms that low-risk organizations comply with the sustainability standards under the Rainforest Alliance Certification Program.

If any gaps are identified during review, your organization may be redirected to the Audit path to complete the standard certification process.

4.1 Review & Verification of Assessment

Endorsement replaces the Audit with a document-based review:

1. You complete and submit a Self-Assessment

2. Rainforest Alliance evaluates your submission

3. You may be asked for clarifications or corrections.

4. If not approved, your only option to be certified will be through the Audit path.

5. If approved, you receive your certificate via an Endorsement Letter

4.1.1 Completing the Self-Assessment

• Log in to MyRA

• Open your Certification Dashboard

• Scroll down to the Certification Path section

• Click the toggle button for the Endorsement option

• Click the green button in the tile labelled “Submit Self-Assessment”

You will be redirected to the Rainforest Alliance Certification Platform (RACP) to begin the assessment.

In RACP:

• You will see the Sustainable Agriculture Standard v1.4 Self-Assessment

• The form is structured by chapter, with specific requirements following compliance and implementation

• For each question, indicate one of the following:

  • Conformity

  • Non-Conformity

  • Not Applicable (N/A)

Use the explanations provided in the form next to each requirement to help evaluate your current operations against each requirement.

Be thorough and accurate as possible as this self-assessment forms the basis of your certification decision.

When you have successfully answered each section with sufficient evidence you can click the “submit” button and confirm on the next page.

The data will now be sent to Rainforest Alliance for evaluation and verification.

4.1.2 Evaluation and Verification by Rainforest Alliance

The Rainforest Alliance review team will carefully evaluate your self-assessment alongside the data you have already submitted during your application.

As part of this review, you may be asked to provide clarifications or additional supporting evidence to validate your responses.

This process ensures that your operations meet the requirements of the standard and that the integrity of the certification system is upheld.

Based on the outcome of this evaluation, Rainforest Alliance may either:

• Issue an Endorsement Letter, granting certification without the need for an audit, or

• Redirect your organization to the Audit pathway if certain elements cannot be sufficiently verified through documentation alone.

If you are redirected to the audit route, please refer to the section “Apply for New Certification via Audit” for next steps.

4.2 Awarding & Viewing the Endorsement Letter

The Rainforest Alliance will send you an email notification once evaluation and verification of your data has been completed. If the outcome of the review is positive and a decision is made to issue an Endorsement Letter, you will be informed.

The Endorsement Letter will be made available on the RACP where you can view and download it. The Rainforest Alliance typically issues the Endorsement Letter within up to 2 weeks from submission. This may vary depending on the completeness of your submission and the current processing volume at Rainforest Alliance.

A reminder that an Endorsement letter is seen as the equivalent to certificate in the context of Rainforest Alliance sustainability compliance.

To view and download your endorsement letter, follow the following steps:

• Log into the MyRA platform with your credentials

• From your dashboard, navigate down to the “Recommended Services” section

• Click on the “Certification Tile” and a new window opens with details of the Certification tab

• Select the “Review endorsement letter” tile.

• You will be directed to the RACP dashboard.

• From your RACP dashboard, scroll to the “Certificates” section. Here you will find the endorsement letter listed.

• Click the Download button. It is the medal symbol in front of the row of the endorsement letter.

• Your Endorsement letter will be downloaded as a PDF onto your device, and you can view it from there.

4.3 What to Do After Certification

Once your organization is certified, you unlock access to two key tools that support transparency and responsible sourcing: Traceability and Claims.

4.3.1 Maintaining Certification

To remain certified for the full validity period (3 year cycle), a Certificate Holder must:

1. Maintain Compliance with the Standard

   • Certificate Holders must consistently meet the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard or applicable Supply Chain Standard throughout the cycle.

   • They must implement corrective actions when non-conformities arise.

2. Respect Use of Rainforest Alliance Trademarks

   • Use of the Rainforest Alliance seal must follow brand guidelines and license agreement terms.

   • Misuse can lead to suspension or withdrawal of certification.

3. Avoid Certificate Suspension or Withdrawal

   • Certification Bodies may suspend or withdraw a certificate if:

     • Audits are not conducted

     • Non-conformities are not resolved

     • Certification rules are violated

4.3.2 Traceability

As a supply chain organization, traceability enables you to track certified products as they move through the supply chain from producers to processors, exporters, and beyond. This ensures that certified goods are properly documented and can be verified at each stage. It helps you maintain credibility with buyers and partners and supports compliance with sustainability standards.

For more information on how to use our traceability system, MultiTrace, see this guide.

4.3.3 Claims

Claims allow you to communicate your certified status to customers and stakeholders. This includes using approved logos, labels, or statements on packaging, websites, and promotional materials. All claims must follow specific guidelines to ensure they are clear, accurate, and aligned with certification rules.

For more information on how to use our Claims system, see this guide.

5. Getting Access to Your Financials

As part of the certification process, Rainforest Alliance requires visibility into your organization’s financial information relating to the certification scope.

More information about why and how this is done can be reviewed in the financials section of the Knowledge Hub.

6. Certificate Scope Extensions

A scope extension is an official update to your valid Rainforest Alliance certificate that reflects significant changes in your operations—such as adding new farms, crops, sites, or increasing certified volume. It ensures your certification remains accurate, trustworthy, and compliant with Rainforest Alliance standards.

6.1 Understanding Certification Scope Extensions

Below are a few certain aspects to Certificate Scope Extensions that you as a Supply chain organization need to understand.

6.1.1 What is a scope extension?

A scope extension is a formal update to your certification that reflects changes in your organization’s operations. It allows you to add new elements such as more volume, additional farms or sites, new crops, activities, or traceability levels to your existing certificate before it expires.

6.1.2 Why and When is an Extension required?

You must request a scope extension if you:

• Increase certified volume, area, or group members

• Add a new crop, site, or processing activity

• Change your traceability level (e.g., from Mass Balance to Identity Preserved)

These changes must be updated in MyRA may require an extension audit depending on the risk and scale of change.

6.1.3 Who initiates the Extension?

You as the Farm Certificate Holder are responsible for initiating a scope extension.

When your operations change, such as adding volume, farms, or crops, you must do the following:

Step1: Notify your Certification Body (CB)        

Let them know you plan to extend your scope. This is essential for coordination and

determining whether an extension audit is needed.

Step 2: Update your details in MyRA and Certification Scope in RACP

• Follow the relative steps explained in the “Register for Certification” section in the manual above for providing the necessary extension details for example - volumes, farm or crop Information in MyRA.

• Follow the relative steps explained in the “Confirming the Certification Scope” section to update the scope form in RACP.

Step 3: Ensure the Certification Body receives the Updated Scope

Ensure all relevant changes are reflected in the scope.

If the Certification body needs to perform an extension audit based on the changes they will then create and Audit order and engage the same way as you did for the initial Certification Surveillance Audit.

If no audit is necessary, the Certification Body will grant the extension to the certificate in the platform and you will be notified via email upon receiving the updated certificate.

For more information on extensions, kindly refer to the Certification and Auditing Rules for Supply Chain.

7. Request Certification Body Transfer

A Certification Body transfer means moving your certification oversight from one authorized Certification Body to another. This process ensures that your certification remains valid and recognized, while changing the organization responsible for your audits and compliance monitoring.

Transfers must follow specific rules to maintain the integrity of your certification. It is important to initiate the process correctly and communicate clearly with your new Certification Body.