On March 3, 2025, we published version 1.4 of our Sustainable Agriculture Standard on the Knowledge Hub.
This streamlined version of our standard will become binding on October 1, 2025, bringing considerable improvements for both our farm and supply chain Certificate Holders.
To implement this new version of our standard, we will also make changes to our Rainforest Alliance Certification Platform (RACP).
When must I start using version 1.4 of the Sustainable Agriculture Standard?
You don’t need to schedule a new audit or recertify just because we’re updating our standard and certification platform. When it’s time for your next audit, we’ll guide you through the switch to version 1.4 of our Sustainable Agriculture Standard and the updated version of RACP.
The timing of your transition depends on your audit schedule. The "Renew your Certification" button in RACP will be disabled on June 5, 2025, so it’s important to know what applies to you.
Which group do you fall into?
You’ll fall into one of four groups based on your upcoming audit or license expiration date. Check below to see what version of the standard and RACP system you’ll need to use—and what deadlines to keep in mind.
Farm and Supply Chain Certificate Holders with audits planned...
...up until September 30th, 2025
What to do:
Press the "Renew your Certification" button in RACP by June 5th, 2025.
Apply version 1.3 of the Sustainable Agriculture Standard during your audit, (you may choose to follow the Simplification Policy).
Use the current version of RACP to start and complete your audit process.
Start your audit by latest September 30th, 2025.
Close any non-conformities within 10 weeks, by latest December 22nd, 2025.
Need Help? Contact Customer Success team.
...from October 1, 2025 onwards
What to do:
Apply version 1.4 of the Sustainable Agriculture Standard during your audit.
Use the updated version of RACP, accessible from August 2025.
If you’re a supply chain actor, you’ll receive a new verification level in August through the updated RACP to determine when or if you need an audit.
Need Help? Contact Customer Success team.
Supply chain actors not requiring an audit (endorsed or no audit year) with licenses expiring…
...up until September 30th, 2025
What to do:
Press the "Renew your Certification" button in RACP by June 5th, 2025.
Apply version 1.3 of the Sustainable Agriculture Standard when completing your self-assessment, (you may choose to follow the Simplification Policy).
Use the current version of RACP to start and complete your license renewal process.
There’s no change to regular timelines—just complete your self-assessment and request your endorsement before your license expires.
Need Help? Contact Customer Success team.
...from October 1, 2025 onwards
What to do:
Apply version 1.4 of the Sustainable Agriculture Standard when completing your self-assessment.
Use the updated version of RACP, accessible from August 2025.
Through the updated RACP, you’ll receive a new verification level in August to determine when or if you need an audit.
Need Help? Contact Customer Success team.
How to apply the Simplification Policy
As of March, we’ve also introduced a Simplification Policy for version 1.3. This means that both current and new Certificate Holders can start benefiting from some of the changes, like fewer requirements and reduced internal inspections, even before version 1.4 becomes binding.
The Simplification Policy is available on the Knowledge Hub. It clearly outlines which requirements from version 1.3 will no longer apply as well as which policies remain in place.
To make implementing the Simplification Policy even easier, we’ve updated the Certificate Holder self-assessment checklist in the Rainforest Alliance Certification Platform (RACP).
Certificate Holders must first re-confirm their scope in RACP. This will enable Certification Bodies to view the updated checklist in RACP, and Certificate Holders to take the optional step of checking which requirements no longer apply to them.
Certification Bodies can then use RACP to manage the process of applying this checklist to upcoming audits.
For Certificate Holders that have already been audited, non-conformities based on “not mandatory” requirements will no longer need to be closed.
For audits planned against version 1.3 before October 1, 2025, any requirement marked as “not mandatory” will no longer need to be complied with by Certificate Holders, nor audited by Certification Bodies.
The Knowledge Hub: Your go-to place for version 1.4 content
Version 1.4 of the Sustainable Agriculture Standard, along with its supporting documents and the Certification and Auditing Rules, have been published on the Knowledge Hub. Many of you already use this platform, and we’re consolidating all certification-related documents there to make content easier for you to find. While the version 1.3 documents will still be available on our website for now, we’ll transition everything to the Knowledge Hub over time. Don’t worry—we’ll keep you informed every step of the way.