SFA Chain of Custody (CoC) Standard Audit and Certification Process

Objectivos

The SFA Chain of Custody Standard is a critical framework designed to ensure the integrity of 'SFA Certified' fiber as it moves from herders through every stage of processing and trade to the final product. It provides the traceability backbone for the SFA program, verifying that certified materials are properly identified, segregated, and documented throughout the supply chain.

Key Objectives of the Standard:

  • Ensure Traceability: Track 'SFA Certified' fiber from origin to final product
  • Prevent Mixing: Guarantee strict segregation of certified and non-certified materials
  • Verify Claims: Provide a credible system to support accurate 'SFA Certified' marketing claims
  • Promote Transparency: Require robust record keeping and reporting

Who Needs Certification?

Entities at virtually every step of the SFA supply chain that take legal ownership of 'SFA Certified' materials are required to be certified against this standard to make any related claims. This includes:

  • Traders & Dealers
  • Sorters, Scourers, and Dehairers
  • Spinners, Weavers, and Knitters
  • Garment Manufacturers
  • Brands (if they take possession of unfinished/unlabeled products or use subcontractors for such)

Core Requirements of the Standard

Entities seeking certification must establish and maintain a management system that fulfills the standard key requirements, which IDFL auditors will assess. These include:

  1. SFA Registration as a Prerequisite: All entities must first be officially registered with the SFA and obtain an SFA-issued Registration Certificate before a Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) can accept their certification request.
  2. Documented Management System: Establish and maintain procedures for chain of custody control, site management, complaint handling, and management reviews.
  3. Robust Record-Keeping: Maintain detailed, accessible records for a minimum of six years, covering:
    • Transactions: Complete electronic Transaction Records for every sale/purchase
    • Processing: Detailed Processing Records for any conditioning or manufacturing step
    • Material Reconciliation: Ongoing input/output reconciliation at the site level
  4. Physical Control & Segregation: Implement clear labeling, segregation practices, and material identification to prevent mixing of certified and non-certified products at all stages, including storage and transport.
  5. Transaction Integrity: Only buy from certified sellers, ensure valid transaction records exist for all inputs, and verify received goods against documentation.
  6. Accurate Claims: Make only SFA-approved claims that are verifiable and do not make broad, unsubstantiated environmental or welfare statements. Proper use of the 'SFA Certified' logo is mandatory.
  7. Transparency & Access: Grant the SFA and IDFL, as your CAB, unconditional access to all relevant records, sites, and personnel for audit purposes.

Recursos adicionais

  • The SFA Chain of Custody application form is available here.
  • See the SFA Chain of Custody Standard v1.1 here.
  • See the SFA Assurance & Certification Manual v2.0 here.
  • See the SFA Chain of Custody Claims Guidance v3.0 here.
  • See the SFA Visual Claims Guidance here.

Processo de auditoria e certificação

Equipa IDFL