Policy on Phased Implementation of Version 1.4 of the Sustainable Agriculture Standard

What is this document about?

As part of the roll-out of version 1.4 of the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard, the new requirements and binding documents will be implemented in a phased approach. Certificate Holders (CHs) starting audits with the version 1.4 of the Sustainable Agriculture Standard will have their audits in the current  Rainforest Alliance Certification Platform (RACP). In the coming months, the audit process and platform will be adapted as the certification systems are updated.

When and how to use this document?

CHs and CBs shall use this document to prepare for audits against version 1.4 of the Sustainable Agriculture Standard. The Standard will be implemented gradually, with some documents becoming binding on October 1^st. In determining their certification process for audits and endorsements after October 1^st, 2025, CHs and CBs must use this policy.

1. Introduction

As part of the roll-out of version 1.4 of the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard, there will be a phased implementation of the new version of the Standard and Assurance Rules. For audits beginning on or after October 1^st, version 1.4 of the Sustainable Agriculture Standard will be fully binding, and the certification process will take place in the Rainforest Alliance Certification Platform. This policy outlines which rules and requirements will become binding on October 1^st, 2025, and which will be implemented later.  

2. Implementation of Requirements

All audits on or after October 1^st, 2025, will be subject to the respective Farm or Supply Chain Requirements for the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard. The following updated documents become binding on October 1^st, 2025:

• Sustainable Agriculture Standard version 1.4 Farm Requirements

• Sustainable Agriculture Standard version 1.4 Supply Chain Requirements

• Management Annex v1.1

• Traceability Annex v1.3

• Premium Annex v1.3

• Farming Annex v1.3

• Social Annex v1.2

• Environment Annex v1.2

• Indicator Annex v1.0

• Glossary Annex v1.4

3. Implementation of Assurance Rules

The following documents on Assurance Rules will not become binding on October 1st:

• Certification Rules for Farm v1.1

• Auditing Rules for Farm v 1.1

• Certification and Auditing Rules for Supply Chain v1.0

As of August 1^st, the new checklist for version 1.4 of the Sustainable Agriculture Standard will be visible in the Rainforest Alliance Certification Platform (RACP). CHs that start their audit on October 1^st or later must (re)confirm their scope in RACP to see the updated checklist. CHs that start their audit or have an endorsement expiring prior to October 1^st do not need to update the checklist. If a CH has difficulty (re)confirming their scope and accessing the new checklist, they should reach out to customer success via customersuccess@ra.org for assistance.

The version 1.3 checklist for audits between August 1st and September 30th will be available on the Knowledge Hub. This version can then be uploaded as part of the license request documentation in lieu of the checklist from the RACP. Any CH with audits between August 1^st and September 30^th that changes and (re)confirms their scope will see the updated version 1.4 checklist. If the audit start date is before October 1^st, the CB must use the version 1.3 checklist.

3.1 Certification and Auditing Rules for Farms

The latest published versions of the Certification Rules for Farm v1.1 and Auditing Rules for Farm v1.1 will not become binding on October 1^st, 2025. To facilitate system updates, the certification and auditing processes for farm CHs will remain unchanged until further notice. The current versions of the Assurance Rules  (Certification Rules v1.0 and Auditing Rules v1.0 ) remain in effect for farm CHs until further notice.

Farm CHs with an audit starting on or after October 1^st, 2025, who receive a positive certification decision will continue to be granted a three-year certificate and a one-year license.

3.1.1. Collection and Auditing of Indicator Data

As part of the roll-out of version 1.4 of the Sustainable Agriculture Standard, CHs are required to collect the data as outlined in the Indicator Annex. CHs shall navigate to the “Indicator Data” section of the RACP where they can request the survey link for the indicator questionnaire(s). CHs are required to fill in the applicable indicator data using the indicator questionnaire. Once completed, the CH shall submit the form(s) to make them available to the CB. The CB will then have access to the indicator data questionnaire as part of the “Audit Preparation” documents in RACP. The CB can then check progress and validate the indicators or reject them.

The CB shall audit whether each indicator is complete, credible, and consistent. In case the data does not meet these criteria, the CB shall issue a nonconformity (NC) on that indicator data point, and the CH shall correct the data. In such a case the CB shall reject the questionnaire in RACP for the CH to correct the data. The CB shall then verify the closure of the NC(s). NCs on indicator data must be closed in the stipulated timeline of 10 weeks from the start date of the audit.

3.2. Certification and Auditing Rules for Supply Chain

The Certification and Auditing Rules for Supply Chain will not become binding on October 1^st. To facilitate the transition to version 1.4 of the Sustainable Agriculture Standard, only the new verification levels and resulting audit frequency below will come into effect. Except for the verification levels and audit frequency, the Certification Rules v1.0 and the Auditing Rules v1.0 as they apply to supply chain audits remain in effect until further notice.

^{Table 1. Verification Levels (from 2.3.4 of the Certification and Auditing Rules for Supply Chain)}

As of August 1^st, Supply Chain CHs will receive verification levels based on Table 1 above. CHs that are being audited between August 1^st and September 30^th that do not yet have a verification level should reach out to customersuccess@ra.org. Certification Bodies (CBs) seeking clarification regarding the verification level of a CH should reach out to certification@ra.org.

License Expiring between October 1^st and December 31^st (with certificate expiring later)

Supply Chain CHs shall communicate their new verification level(s) to their CB. The Certificate Holder submitting a new SCRA for audits occurring or licenses expiring on or after October 1^st will receive a new license with an end date that reflects the deadline for their next audit (based on the table above). The new end date is determined by the date of the CH's last audit and when their next audit is due according to their verification level(s).

Certificate and License Expiring between October 1^st and December 31st

If the CH's certificate expires after October 1st, they must complete their v1.4 audit before obtaining a new certificate and license. The audit start date must be within 9 to 15 months from the start date of their previous license.

License Request Submission

Once the audit for version 1.4 of the Standard has been conducted and finalized, and the audit documents are ready to be submitted, the CB shall notify Rainforest Alliance before submitting the license request in the RACP. After Rainforest Alliance review, the CH will receive a new certificate with validity dates based on their verification level(s).

Other information

Date of first publication of this document (v 1.0): July 1^st, 2025

Documents indicated as “binding” must be complied with for certification. Documents indicated as “non-binding” provide non-mandatory information to help readers understand and implement requirements and other binding content.

Translation Disclaimer

For any question related to the precise meaning of the information in a translation, consult the official English version for clarification. Any errors or differences in meaning due to translation are not binding and have no effect for auditing or certification purposes.

Reproduction, modification, distribution, or republication of this content is strictly forbidden without prior written consent from Rainforest Alliance.

More information?

For help in obtaining a Rainforest Alliance certificate reach out to our Customer Success team at customersuccess@ra.org

For more information about Rainforest Alliance, visit http://www.rainforest-alliance.org contact info@ra.org or the Rainforest Alliance Amsterdam Office, De Ruijterkade 6, 1013AA Amsterdam, The Netherlands.