Grievances and Appeals
The Rainforest Alliance values feedback, questions and grievances from all stakeholders regarding our certification program and trademark use. Your input helps us strengthen our certification program and drive meaningful improvements in agriculture.
Please read below how you can best contact our teams in case of questions, and how you can file a complaint according to our grievance procedure.
Do you have a question or suggestion?
If you have general questions, feedback or suggestions, please visit our Contact Us page to connect with the right team.
Do you have a grievance or appeal?
If you have a grievance (a complaint or concern) or appeal (a complaint against a decision made by the Rainforest Alliance), related to compliance with the Rainforest Alliance certification program or its trademarks, please complete the Grievance and Appeal form below. We handle grievances and appeals in accordance with our grievance and appeal procedure.
Who can file a grievance or appeal?
Anyone with a grievance or appeal within the scope of our mechanism may submit a grievance or appeal.
You may remain fully anonymous or disclose your identity only to the Rainforest Alliance. Please note that remaining anonymous may limit our ability to investigate thoroughly.
What is covered by the grievance mechanism?
You can submit a grievance if you have concerns or complaints about:
A Rainforest Alliance certified farm, group or company,
An authorized Certification Body, or
The Rainforest Alliance itself.
What is the scope?
The Rainforest Alliance grievance mechanism covers grievances regarding:
Compliance with our Certification Program (standards, rules, policies and procedures)
Potential, as well as actual, instances of corruption and misrepresentation of our Certification Program and its trademarks.
Please note:
Grievances or appeals must relate to the Rainforest Alliance Certification Program.
Events older than three months from the reporting date cannot be accepted.
Grievances should first be addressed at the most direct level possible (see the Pathway to Resolution below).
Grievances about contractual obligations between Certificate Holders and/or Certification Bodies that go beyond policies and procedures of the Rainforest Alliance are out of scope.
How do I file a grievance or appeal?
We ask that you fill out the Grievance and Appeal form provided below.
Pathway to resolution
Grievances should be addressed at the most direct level possible. If a resolution fails, you may escalate it to the next level.
There are 3 levels where grievances can be submitted:
Certificate Holder’s (CH) grievance mechanism
Certification Body (CB) grievance or appeal mechanism
Rainforest Alliance grievance and appeal mechanism
See the Rainforest Alliance Grievance and Appeal Procedure.
You may bypass more direct levels if:
Reporting directly poses a risks to you, or
The mechanism or grievance committee is not trusted or id perceived as biased, or
The grievance concerns the grievance mechanism or committee itself.
Submission overview:
Level | Grievance about | Submit to | Only if the grievance is not resolved to your satisfaction, you can escalate the grievance to |
1 | Certificate Holder | Certificate holders’ grievance mechanism | Certification Body’s grievance mechanism |
2 | Certification Body | CB’s grievance or appeal mechanism | Rainforest Alliance grievance form |
3 | Rainforest Alliance | Rainforest Alliance grievance form | Rainforest Alliance appeal process by filling out the form. |
Certification Program Grievances in 2025
The Rainforest Alliance will continue to engage and manage grievances, while also keeping a constant eye on this data for continuous improvements.
A grievance is considered eligible if:
a. It falls within the defined scope, as outlined in Grievance Procedure Principle I;
b. An attempt has been made to resolve the issue at an informal or more direct level through the appropriate channel, as specified in Grievance Procedure Principle II; and
c. The grievance has been submitted with all required information, as detailed in Grievance Procedure Process 1.
Learn More
Explore our one pager or watch the video on the Rainforest Alliance Grievance and Appeal Procedure.