How we updated our Kenyan tea policy through a multi-stakeholder consultation

What’s the background

The Kenyan tea sector is critical for the Rainforest Alliance. Our certification program has a major footprint in the country and delivers sustainability impacts for farmers and their communities. The sector faces specific sustainability issues and opportunities, also raised by Kenyan tea stakeholders and the Kenyan government in 2025 through a government‑appointed ad hoc Technical Committee working with the Rainforest Alliance.

To ensure the certification program addresses these concerns, the Rainforest Alliance conducted a consultation with key Kenyan tea stakeholders to determine how to contextualize relevant program components to sector realities.

What topics were in scope?

The consultation covered a defined set of topics relevant to the Kenyan tea sector. These topics stem from discussions with the Technical Committee, which concluded in December 2025 and identified issues requiring further sector input.

Contextualization for the Kenyan tea sector is captured in the “Policy for Kenya (Tea): Farm Certification” (Kenya Tea Policy), and the consultation results informed its update.

The topics are related to:

Assurance: aligning Sustainable Agriculture Standard Version 1.4, the Certification & Auditing Rules to the Kenyan context to ensure a fair and credible Certification Program.
Engagement: identify the most effective way for the tea sector and the Rainforest Alliance to ensure stakeholder involvement and efficient roll-out and continuous improvement in the quality of implementation.
Pesticides and Waste Disposal: Engaging with local stakeholders to identify effective agrochemical management and empty agrochemical container disposal leveraging local best practice.

List of Specific Topics within the scope of consultation:

Standard Requirements (contextualized per the tea policy)
Certification and auditing rules (as indicated in the tea policy)
Agrochemical management, pest monitoring and empty container disposal
Waste disposal
Engagement/Structured Policy review feedback

A number of topics were already addressed in the Kenya Tea Policy and other processes and documents as part of the agreement with the Technical Committee. These topics were socialized during the consultation process but were not in the scope for this Consultation. These are:

The introduction of a minimum premium for Kenyan tea sold through auction and the reporting of premium in our traceability system
The re-introduction of traceability in the Rainforest Alliance Traceability Platform
The move of both premium payment and royalty to the first buyer
Reduction in Standard Requirements beyond the simplification of the Sustainable Agriculture Standard in Version 1.4. and Version 1.1 of the Kenya Tea Policy

Why did we do it

Rainforest Alliance welcomed the request of the Kenyan tea stakeholders in the country for this consultation and aligned it to the ISEAL Code of Good Practice for Sustainability Systems - https://isealalliance.org/what-we-do/credible-practice/iseal-code-good-practice-sustainability-systems

The consultation process is aimed at being structured and inclusive to ensure the Kenyan Tea Policy of the Rainforest Alliance Certification Program:

Captures the stakeholder's reality across the value chain.
Is responsive to national context and dynamics.
Is technically robust but operationally feasible.

How did we do it? The Process.

Rainforest Alliance organized a Multistakeholder workshop to collect input and feedback. We then reviewed all consultation inputs and feedback from stakeholders to create a version 1.3 of the “Rainforest Alliance Policy for Kenya (Tea): Farm and Supply Chain Certification and published this document after internal Rainforest Alliance approval processes.

Who was consulted?

The Rainforest Alliance consulted with over 30 Kenyan tea stakeholders. Stakeholders from the public, private and civil society sector were identified and invited including those representing different producer types such as smallholders. In addition, given the technical nature of several topics, relevant experts(organisations) were also identified.

Invitations were shared via email and followed up with phone calls. Interested parties joined the Rainforest Alliance team during the multi-stakeholder workshop on December 17, 2025 representing:

Producers and producer organisations: KTDA representatives, Kenya Tea Growers Association, Independent Tea Producers Association of Kenya, Nyayo Tea Zones Development Corporation
International tea value chain support organization: Ethical Tea Partnership
Government organizations directly supporting tea industry: Tea Board of Kenya also representing the Principal Secretary, State Department for Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Tea Research Institute
Technical Committee
Government bodies in Agrochemicals regulation: NEMA
Agrochemicals Industry Experts: Agro-chemicals Association of Kenya, Kenya Association of Manufacturers, Integrated Bio-Pesticides Manufacturers Association, Kenya Association of Waster Recyclers
Certification Bodies: Africert, BVQI, Control Union, Preferred by Nature, Ecocert

What feedback has been given and how has it been addressed

The table below summarizes the changes requested by consulted stakeholders, the corresponding requirements or topics, Rainforest Alliance’s decision to implement, partially implement, or not implement each request, and the justification for that decision.

Changes implemented
Requirement or Topic	Requested Change	Implemented	Justification
Terminology changes	Change “green leaf suppliers” to “green leaf transporters”	Yes	More accurate terminology—suppliers are farmers.
1.2.9 Farm Catchment Map	Include that digital maps must be up to date	Yes	Improves accuracy.
1.3.3 & 1.3.4 Training Requirements	Clarify language on training requirements for group management	Yes	Ensure alignment with the standard.
CB costs transparency	Make CB fee transparency mandatory	Yes	Included in the policy that CBs publish their fee structure on their website
5.4.1 Living Wage	Add examples of acceptable benchmark	Yes	Additional examples will support CHs
6.7.1 Waste Management	Clarify management responsibility to create awareness	Yes	Improves clarity for auditors and CHs
6.7.1 Waste Management	Reword statements to align with Sustainable Waste Management Act 2022	Yes	Ensures legal consistency.
4.6.9 Agrochemical Management	Change “pesticides” to “agrochemicals”	Yes	Broadens scope to cover all relevant agrochemical inputs.
Changes partially implemented
Requirement or Topic	Requested Change	Implemented	Justification
Agrochemical Waste Management	Additional detail to the requirement regarding collection by suppliers and licensed waste handlers for disposal	Partially implemented	Include reference to applicable local laws; mandating licensed waste handlers not implemented due to cost implications for CHs.
Agrochemical Waste Management	Include local innovative disposal methods	Partially accepted	Such methods may be used if compliant with local law; CHs cannot be required to invest in incinerators.
Agrochemical Waste Management	CHs to liaise with suppliers for container collection	Not required but noted as good practice.	Recognized but not formalized due to cost/feasibility.
Changes not implemented
Requirement or Topic	Requested Change	Implemented	Justification
Reporting on Traceability Platform	Allow annual (not quarterly) removal of uncertified tea volumes	No	Allowing annual-only removal introduces credibility risks. Instead, the Rainforest Alliance provides an extension to online reporting of traceability – which would give certificate holders 6, instead of 2 weeks after the close of the quarter.
Transporters in Scope	Clarify that leaf transporters hired by estates for transporting tea within estates are in certification scope	No	Transporters are out of scope as Service Providers. Estate-hired transporters are classified as workers, not Service Providers.
Double Registration Controls via Polygons	Add new polygon/GMR requirements to address double registration	No	Current rules already align with Tea Act 2020. Rainforest Alliance will continue monitoring and adjust only if needed.
Additional Trainings (e.g., GAP, GMP)	Include new mandatory training topics	No	Would contradict simplification objectives. GMP already covered via Tea Act 2020.
Grievance Mechanism	Allow CHs to file complaints with Rainforest Alliance immediately, instead of first using their CBs grievance system	No	Global grievance rules require using the most direct channel first, but Rainforest Alliance permits escalation if not satisfactory.
Certification Rules	Add requirement for CHs to comply with supply chain certification rules	No	Compliance is already mandatory; adding it is redundant.
Certification Rules	Allow CHs benefiting from the maximum sample-size to benefit from incentivised audits with great or outstanding performance	No	This poses an assurance risk—would reduce sampling too much.
Certification Rules	Rainforest Alliance should pay for unjustified investigation audits	No	Rainforest Alliance already pays when Rainforest Alliance conducts the audit. If CB conducts it, CB pays when allegations are incorrect.

Where can I see the updated Policy for Kenya (Tea)?

Please refer to the Policy for Kenya (Tea) v1.3. for all changes and updates.