Title: | Rainforest Alliance Policy: Online Traceability Exception for Tea Certificate Holders |
Code: | A-32-SRCL-B-CH |
Version: | 1.1 |
Applies to: | Farm and Supply Chain Certificate Holders in Tea |
Enforceability: | Binding content |
Effective by: | October 1st, 2025 |
Expires by: | Until further notice |
Published on: | August 18th, 2025 |
Linked to | A-1-S-B-F-v1.4 Sustainable Agriculture Standard Farm Requirements A-02-S-B-SC-v1.4 Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard - Supply Chain Requirements |
Replaces: | SA-P-GA-35-V1 Rainforest Alliance Policy: Online Traceability Exception for Tea Certificate Holders |
What is this document about?
This policy exception has been developed to support the traceability reporting process for tea certificate holders.
When and how to use this document?
Tea certificate holders shall use this document to demonstrate their exemption from reporting requirements for online traceability. CBs shall use this document to understand the evidence needed to support conformity to the traceability requirements outlined below for audits against v1.4 of the Sustainable Agriculture Standard.
Changes in update from v1 to v1.1
Section | What has changed |
1.0 | Requirement 2.2.1 - Update language to reflect v1.4 of the Standard |
1.0 | Requirement 2.2.2 – applicable to farm only, updated to language to reflect v1.4 of the Standard |
1.0 | Requirement 2.2.3 – removed, merged into 2.2.1 |
1.0 | Requirement 2.2.5 – removed, no longer in v1.4 of the Standard |
1.1 | Removed reference to timeline |
Online Traceability Exception
Due to the complexity and variability of tea supply chains and traceability data gaps between farm CH and first processor, the Rainforest Alliance is proposing a simplification of tea reporting requirements in the Rainforest Alliance traceability platform.
Farm and Supply Chain certificate holders in Tea* have been granted an exception to the Rainforest Alliance Online Traceability Platform. Details on the scope of the exception and applicable Certificate Holders are below.
*Note this policy does not apply to Herbs and Spices as defined in Rainforest Alliance Appendix B.
1. Outline of Exception
Farm and supply chain certificate holders are exempted from reporting traceability in the Rainforest Alliance online platform. Only those requirements listed below fall into this exception, requirements for paper-based traceability, segregation, etc. will still be required for these actors.
The above farm and supply chain certificate holders are exempted from the following Requirements
2.2.1 – Farm & SC | Any activity related to the certified volume (such as redeeming, removing, selling, purchasing, confirming, etc.) must be recorded in the Rainforest Alliance traceability platform within two weeks after the end of the quarter in which the activity took place. |
2.2.2 - Farm | Buyers of Rainforest Alliance Certified products regularly verify that transactions in the traceability platform match invoices for certified products. |
1.1 Reporting Requirements for the First Processors
The first processors and final packers* are required to provide data via the volume declaration form for all certified volume. This volume declaration shall be submitted on a quarterly basis.
1.1.1 MultiTrace Authorization Request Form for Tea.
1.1.2 The first processor shall provide the information required to Rainforest Alliance so that the information can be transacted on their behalf. The processor must use the request form above provided by Rainforest Alliance.
1.1.3 Tea supply chain certificate holders are required to provide any additional clarification needed once Rainforest Alliance has reviewed the data provided.
*First processors are defined as the organization that mixes or processes different packages of Made Tea (or Made Tea equivalent weight in the case of instant tea), breaking up the original garden invoice/chop number into a blend or alternative product. Packers are defined as the final packers of finished consumer products in the supply chain.
1.2 Auditing Requirements for Offline Traceability
Certificate Holders will continue to be responsible for providing auditors with evidence that traceability is maintained throughout the process of purchase, receipt, processing, packing, shipping and selling. This includes:
1.2.1 Identification of Rainforest Alliance Certified on physical product.
1.2.2 Identification of Rainforest Alliance Certified products in purchase and sales documentation.
1.2.3 Maintenance of volume summary.
Auditors will verify that first processors and packers have sent the completed excel template to Rainforest Alliance on a quarterly basis but will not review the document for accuracy. If the template is not available then the auditor/CB shall issue a nonconformity to requirement 2.2.1.
Other information
Date of first publication of this document (v 1.0): May 28th 2024.
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.