Herbs and spices are used in a variety of foods, beverages and flavorings and provide important income to farmers. Many of these are certified to Rainforest Alliance, UTZ, and/or Union for Ethical Biotrade (UEBT) standards.
New Herbs and Spices Program with UEBT
The Rainforest Alliance is developing a new Herbs and Spices Program that will be based primarily on the UEBT Standard, which was designed and refined over the last 10 years for natural ingredients that are cultivated or collected from the wild. The new UEBT Standard was published in July 2020.
We will complement UEBT’s requirements with a supplement containing additional criteria based on our new Rainforest Alliance 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Standard that was published in June 2020, as part of the 2020 Certification Program.
See below for more details.
Update: mutual recognition announced for herbal infusions, rooibos, and vanilla from July 1, 2020
Companies will be able to source Rainforest Alliance Certified™ and/or UTZ certified vanilla and herbal infusion ingredients, including rooibos, and then use either the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal or UTZ label on pack (in accordance with the corresponding labeling policy and guidelines).
This is in addition to the Chain of Custody mutual recognition that has been in place since December 2018, which allows companies to purchase both Rainforest Alliance and UTZ certified ingredients while only having one Chain of Custody certificate in place for either one of the current programs.
Mutual recognition for herbal infusions (also called “herbal teas”) includes rooibos, mint, hibiscus, and all ingredients used in any herbal infusion blend: herbs, spices, flowers, and other botanical ingredients.
Participation royalty*
As of July 1, 2020, we will implement a new royalty of €22.50 per MT for Rainforest Alliance Certified™ herbal infusion ingredients such as rooibos, matching the UTZ program fee. Herbal infusions (also called “herbal teas”) benefitting from mutual recognition include rooibos, mint, hibiscus, apple pieces, and all ingredients used in any herbal infusion blend: herbs, spices, flowers, and other botanical ingredients. However, any herbs and spices that are not part of an herbal infusion (such as table herbs, table spices and seasoning mixes) are not included in mutual recognition nor in the royalty, for the time being. For vanilla, which is included in mutual recognition, we will continue to waive the UTZ program fee and not yet charge a royalty on Rainforest Alliance Certified vanilla that isn’t part of an herbal infusion product.
*Equivalent to “program fee” in the UTZ program
Traceability
To enhance the credibility of our family of marks and support mutual recognition for herbal products, we are implementing a volume declaration protocol for herbal infusion ingredients and rooibos from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. These ingredients from UTZ certified farms are already traced in the Good Inside Portal, but until now, herbal ingredients going into products with the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal were only verified through the Chain of Custody audit process. We will begin to collect purchase and sales volume data from companies sourcing Rainforest Alliance Certified herbal infusion ingredients and rooibos beginning on July 1, 2020.
For any questions, feel free to contact us at customersuccess@ra.org.
Partnership of the Rainforest Alliance and UEBT
The Rainforest Alliance and the Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT) are developing a joint Herbs & Spices program. With this partnership, we build on the positive track record of the UTZ/UEBT and Rainforest Alliance herbal tea and spices programs, the decades-long experience of Rainforest Alliance and UTZ in sustainable agriculture certification, and UEBT’s expert knowledge of ethical sourcing of botanical ingredients, including wild harvest.
The new UEBT/Rainforest Alliance Herbs & Spices program will be linked to the Rainforest Alliance seal that is recognized by consumers around the world.
Program scope
The new Herbs & Spices program integrates the current programs of UEBT/UTZ, UTZ and the Rainforest Alliance into a broader and stronger program and includes:
- herbal & fruit infusions
- rooibos infusions
- herbs and spices, including vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, chili and black pepper.
From January 2021, the launch date of the new program, the new Herbs & Spices program will replace the current programs. The transition to the new certification will take place over the course of 2021. We are committed to making the transition as smooth as possible for all our partners.
Please note that on rooibos some additional information will be provided in the coming weeks
Which standards would apply, and for whom?
In the new UEBT/Rainforest Alliance Herbs & Spices program the following standards apply:
- For farmer/ producer certification: the UEBT standard complimented with a set of additional requirements from the Rainforest Alliance standard applies.
- For Chain of Custody certification: the new Rainforest Alliance Supply Chain Requirements (part of the 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Standard) applies.
- Certification against the UEBT standard and the supplement of additional requirements from the Rainforest Alliance standard will be required for all herbs and spices with the following exceptions: Chili and black pepper producers are able to choose their preferred farm standard: UEBT/Rainforest Alliance or Rainforest Alliance. Farmers that cultivate other Rainforest Alliance certified crops alongside Herbs and Spices will not require double certification.
Labeling opportunities
All ingredients certified under the new UEBT/Rainforest Alliance certification program will be able to carry the Rainforest Alliance Certified™ seal or be linked to a Rainforest Alliance corporate claim. For labeling and claims, the Rainforest Alliance Trademarks & Labeling Policies or the UTZ Labeling Policy would apply.
The UTZ label and current Rainforest Alliance label will be gradually phased out. Meanwhile, companies can continue to submit labeling approval requests for UTZ and current Rainforest Alliance labeling & claims at least until the end of 2022, and we will continue to offer support for these legacy seals, from sourcing through marketing.
Timelines
In July 2020 the new UEBT and Rainforest Alliance standards are
published. On the Herbs & Spices program we have the following planning:
- Publish details on the UEBT/Rainforest Alliance certification program by the end of 2020. This will include the UEBT standard, a Rainforest Alliance supplement with additional requirements from the Rainforest Alliance standard, and the UEBT assurance protocol.
- Allow up to one year for training of producers, supply chain actors, trainers and certification bodies as well as for the translation of the relevant certification documents.
- During the first half of 2021 some selected early implementers may be invited to be certified UEBT/ Rainforest Alliance as a pilot.
- From July 2021 the new Herbs & Spices UEBT standard, with Rainforest Alliance supplement will be available for certifying producers in these segments.
- From January 2022 the new Herbs & Spices UEBT standard, with Rainforest Alliance supplement, will be mandatory for certifying producers in these segments.
Please note that for supply chain actors – companies in the supply chain such as exporters, importers and product manufacturers – a different timeline applies. Supply chain actors in the Herbs & Spices program will be audited against the new Rainforest Alliance Chain of Custody Standard (now called, ‘the 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Standard – Supply Chain Requirements’) which was just published in June 2020 and will become mandatory for certification by July 2021.
In case of questions, please contact us at herbsandspices@ra.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
We hold Rainforest Alliance certification for our farm as a supplier of herbs or spices. What changes would we be required to make?
There are likely to be changes under the new program. Farms or suppliers will be audited against the UEBT Standard plus a Rainforest Alliance supplement. In this scenario, UEBT will issue the certificate and the Rainforest Alliance will provide chain of custody and traceability, using the Rainforest Alliance’s Supply Chain Requirements (part of the 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Standard) to enable use of the Rainforest Alliance Certified™ seal. For chili and black pepper you will have a choice between UEBT and the Rainforest Alliance. For rooibos there will be additional information coming soon. We will follow up with further information over the coming months.
So far it is possible that in the future you will see these potential changes:
- Sustainability Differential: It is also important to know that buyers of herbs and spices from farms certified by the program may be required to pay an additional cash payment (Sustainability Differential). This would be paid to the farmer/supplier. The details of how this is reached and requirements surrounding the premium will be further developed before the new program’s formal launch.
- Volume Based Charges: A volume-based charge, called the Participation Royalty, would likely be levied on supply chains of purchasing companies that benefit from Rainforest Alliance certification. The specifics of this charge (rates by volume and where it will be charged as a one-time cost in the supply chain) will be determined by the formal publication of the Herbs & Spices program in mid-2020. Although there is no current Rainforest Alliance Participation Royalty for herbs and spices, it will be calculated and collected in the future. You can find out more about the responsibilities and costs of Rainforest Alliance certification
- Wild collection: UEBT also works with small supplier operations where wild collection of herbs and spices take place, rather than cultivation. For these operations at the supplier level, the UEBT Standard includes rigorous requirements related to ensuring regeneration rates that are sustainable.
I am an herbs and spices supplier and currently certified against the UEBT/UTZ Standard. What would change for me?
In the new program, UEBT/UTZ certificate holders would need to transition to receiving their audit against the revised UEBT Standard with some additional Rainforest Alliance requirements. Farms or suppliers certified as part of our new program will use the Rainforest Alliance Certified™ seal in the future. In the first half of 2021 we will undertake some audits with the new programme as a pilot. By July 2021, we will transition to the new programme and certification will be available based on the revised UEBT standard and the Rainforest Alliance supplement.
My farm is Rainforest Alliance (or UTZ) Certified and I grow coffee/coffee/tea/fruit as well as herbs or spices on the same farm. What standard would my farm be audited against?
When herbs and spices are grown in the same farm as Rainforest Alliance Certified™ crops (such as coffee, cocoa and tea) we are expecting that additional UEBT certification for your herbs and spices won’t be required, unless these ingredients are collected from the wild. In those cases, you would need to use the UEBT standard, since it has special criteria related to the wild collection process.
Would I need to change what Certification Body I use?
UEBT recognises Certification Bodies (auditors) that Rainforest Alliance works with, so a change would not necessarily be required. For up to 12 months we will be training a range of stakeholders including certification bodies in the new requirements. It will be important to reach out to your Certification Body well before your audit to find out if they are able to assist you again.
We produce or supply herbs or spices and want to get certified. Which program would I join?
This timeline may help you decide: By end of July 2020 the new UEBT standard will be published. The new Rainforest Alliance standard will also have been published in June 2020. The further timeline is as follows:
- By end of 2020 – More details on the programme published including UEBT assurance protocol, and the Rainforest Alliance supplement with the additional requirements.
- Up to and throughout the next 12 months – training of producers, supply chain actors, training and certification bodies, as well as translation of relevant certification documents.
- First half of 2021 – some selected early implementors may be certified by UEBT/Rainforest Alliance as a pilot.
- July 2021 – the pilot phase will end. The new UEBT standard with the Rainforest Alliance supplement will be available for certifying producers in these segments.
I am an herbs and spices trader or company and currently hold Rainforest Alliance chain of custody certification. What would change for me?
You would still be required to hold chain of custody certification to source products certified as part of the new Herbs and Spices program. As part of the new 2020 Certification Program, the Rainforest Alliance has published new chain of custody requirements for supply chain actors as part of its 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Standard. These are available in the Standard’s Supply Chain Requirements document. You can find more information regarding timelines and transition to the new 2002 Certification Program here.
My company sources herbs or spices from a Rainforest Alliance or UEBT/UTZ certified farm. What would change for me?
Companies sourcing products certified as part of the new Herbs and Spices program would require Rainforest Alliance certification to the relevant parts of the new 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Standard’s Supply Chain Requirements. You can find more information regarding timelines and transition to the new 202o Certification Program here. The Rainforest Alliance Certified ™ seal would be used for the new program. We have recently refreshed our seal to build upon its strong consumer recognition and brand value. The UTZ label will be gradually phased out, but companies can continue to submit UTZ labelling approval requests at least until the end of 2022.
What would these changes mean for my customers?
Your customers would benefit from greater market reach and consumer recognition of the Rainforest Alliance Certified™ seal. The UTZ label will be gradually phased out. Meanwhile, companies can continue to submit UTZ labelling approval requests at least until the end of 2022, and we will continue to offer support for UTZ certified brands and products, from sourcing through marketing.
You can find more information regarding timelines and transition to the new 2020 Certification Program here. You may also write to customersuccess@ra.org if you have questions or need more information.
I am an herbs and spices trader or company holding Rainforest Alliance chain of custody certification and I also want to source from UEBT/UTZ certified farms. What do I need to do?
We have mutual certification recognition in place for existing Chain of Custody certificate holders of either Rainforest Alliance or UTZ standard. This interim solution will simplify things for companies until the new certification is launched.
Although companies will still need to comply with the rules of both certifications, including seal use, they will only have to be audited and licensed for both certifications once, saving time and money. This is a benefit for companies already working with both certifications, as well as for those currently working with one that wish to start working with the other too. You can find more information here.
I am an herbs and spices trader or company holding UTZ chain of custody certification and I also want to source from Rainforest Alliance certified farms. What do I need to do?
We have mutual certification recognition in place for existing Chain of Custody certificate holders of either Rainforest Alliance or UTZ standard. This interim solution will simplify things for companies until the new certification is launched.
Although companies will still need to comply with the rules of both certifications, including seal use, they will only have to be audited and licensed for both certifications once, saving time and money. This is a benefit for companies already working with both certifications, as well as for those currently working with one that wish to start working with the other too. You can find more information here.
What is the seal/label that will be used for the new program?
The Rainforest Alliance Certified ™ seal would be used for the new program. We have recently refreshed our seal to build upon its strong consumer recognition and brand value.
The UTZ label will be gradually phased out. Companies can continue to submit UTZ labelling approval requests at least until the end of 2022.
What are the timelines for the new herbs and spices program?
By the end of July 2020, UEBT and Rainforest Alliance will have both published their new revised standards on their websites. The new herbs and spices program launches in January 2021 and pilot certification will begin for the first half of 2021. Existing programmes will also continue. In July 2021, the pilot period will end and the new programme, based on the UEBT revised standard and the Rainforest Alliance supplement will be available.
