Herbs and spices are used in a variety of foods and flavorings and provide important income to farmers. Through a new program, producers harvesting or collecting these ingredients can access new markets while conserving biodiversity.
Proposed Partnership Between the Rainforest Alliance and UEBT
In mid-2020, the Rainforest Alliance and the Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT) intend to publish a new program focused on herbs, spices, and ingredients for herbal and fruit infusions. We would come together as two internationally recognized non-profits organizations with a similar approach to protecting people and nature.
We expect a final decision on the new herbs and spices program from our board of directors by January 2020. In mid-2020, we will then publish the new program. Audits that follow the policies and requirements would become mandatory one year after publication of the new program.
This new herbs and spices program would combine each of our organization’s strengths to achieve greater impact. While we bring decades of experience in sustainable agriculture certification and a seal that is recognized by consumers around the world, UEBT brings expert knowledge of ethical sourcing of botanical ingredients (such as leaves, flowers, seeds, roots, bark and resins), including wild harvest.
Since 2015, UTZ has partnered with UEBT in a successful herbal tea program that has resulted in more than 1,000 herbal tea products carrying the UTZ label. Building on this success, we now intend to publish a new, stronger program that will replace the existing program and also replace the current Rainforest Alliance certification program for herbs and spices. For chili, black pepper, vanilla, and rooibos we may decide that these crops will stay with the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard. We will follow up with further information over the coming months.
This consolidation would allow us to share our comprehensive solutions with a wider range of companies and producers who are working on sustainability in biodiversity hotspots around the world. We are committed to making the transition as smooth as possible.
Products certified as part of this new program would be able to carry the Rainforest Alliance Certified™ seal. Chain-of-custody certification would fall under the new Rainforest Alliance Chain of Custody program.
Standard Revision and Consultation Process
UEBT and the Rainforest Alliance are both currently revising their standards.
To take part in the multi-stakeholder consultation process to revise and update the UEBT Standard, which would be the basis for the new herbs and spices program, please share your feedback by 31 August through the UEBT website.
The Rainforest Alliance is developing a new certification program, building on the best of the current Rainforest Alliance and UTZ programs. We welcome you to participate in the consultation of the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard and/or the Rainforest Alliance Chain of Custody Standard by August 31.
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 would likely 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 custody and traceability to enable use of the Rainforest Alliance Certified™ seal. For chili, black pepper, vanilla and rooibos we may decide that these crops will stay within the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard. We will follow up with further information over the coming months.
Currently, both of our standards are undergoing formal revision processes, so some changes will only be known once those revisions are complete and the new programs’ design is finalized.
So far, it is possible that you will see in future these potential changes:
- Membership: All supplier or producer operations to be certified by UEBT would need to become UEBT members. This means they would apply to UEBT and commit to certain obligations and conditions. You can find more information here. This requirement will not apply to operations (purchasers) that are only chain-of-custody certified. The details of requirements surrounding costs will be further developed before the new program’s formal launch.
- Premium: It is also important to know that buyers of herbs and spices from farms certified by the program may be required to pay a premium. The premium 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. We encourage you to provide inputs in the two standards revision processes.
- 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. You can find out more about the responsibilities and costs of Rainforest Alliance certification here.
- Wild collection: UEBT also works with small supplier operations where wild collection of herbs and spices take place, rather than cultivation (farming). 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 a 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.
It is possible you will see some additional changes in the future, and we will communicate those in early 2020.
My farm is Rainforest Alliance (or UTZ) Certified and I grow coffee/cocoa/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?
The certification bodies we work with would be recognized by UEBT, so it is likely that a change won’t be required. However, your certification body and its auditors may need to be trained on the new requirements. If and when the new Herbs and Spices Program is published in mid-2020, it will be important to reach out to your CB 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 can I join?
While a final decision on the program is not expected until early 2020, we would expect that you would be able to choose between either of the current programs until the program launches formally (this would be no sooner than mid-2021). However, you should keep in mind that the current UEBT/UTZ program only allows the UTZ label to be used on herbal tea products. We are currently reviewing mutual recognition opportunities within relevant parts of our herbs and spices portfolio and will follow up with further information over the coming months.
I am an herbs and spices trader or company and currently hold Rainforest Alliance chain-of-custody certification. What would change for me in the new program?
You would still be required to hold Rainforest Alliance chain-of-custody (CoC) certification to source products certified as part of the new Herbs and Spices program. We are working on a new Chain of Custody Standard. You can find more information regarding the timeline and transition on our website.
I am an herbs and spices trader or company and currently hold UTZ chain-of-custody certification. What would change for me in the new program?
Companies sourcing products certified as part of the new Herbs and Spices program would require Rainforest Alliance chain-of-custody (CoC) certification. We are working on a new Chain of Custody Standard. You can find more information regarding the timeline and transition on our website.
The Rainforest Alliance Certified ™ seal would be used for the new program. We are working to refresh and modernize our seal while continuing 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 our Rainforest Alliance Certified™ green frog 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.
We are also working on new guidelines for trademark use and a new Chain of Custody Standard. You can find more information regarding the timeline and transition on the Rainforest Alliance website. 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 are working to refresh and modernize our seal while continuing 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 are the timelines for the new Herbs and Spices program?
In 2019 the Rainforest Alliance and UEBT are revising our standards and developing the new Herbs and Spices Program, so that it can be submitted to our Board of Directors for a formal decision in early 2020. We are communicating with stakeholders about the upcoming ppotential changes and what they could possibly expect. There are no new requirements during 2019.
In January 2020, we both intend to publish our separate, revised standards.
Once the decision is made to proceed, then in mid-2020 we would publish the new Herbs and Spices Program.
Audits (re-certifications) that follow the policies and requirements of the new Herbs and Spices program would become mandatory one year after publication of the new program.
How do I take part in the revisions of the UEBT and the Rainforest Alliance standards?
To take part in the multi-stakeholder consultation process to revise and update the UEBT Standard, provide your inputs by 31 August through the UEBT website.
We are developing our new certification program, building on the best of the current Rainforest Alliance and UTZ programs. To take part in the consultation of the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard or the Rainforest Alliance Chain of Custody Standard, please visit the Rainforest Alliance website and provide your input by 31 August.