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Binding documents

Binding Documents are a set of standards, policies and rules that are applicable to different actors in the Rainforest Alliance’s programs, depending on the type of activity the actor is engaged in, as set forth in an organization's license agreement with the Rainforest Alliance.

These Binding Documents include the following documents and categories of rules: License Agreement Terms and Conditions, certification standards and rules, traceability rules, labeling rules, and online platform terms and conditions.* Additional guidelines can be found in our Help Center.

*Note: All actors that are part of either cocoa program and any actors interested in using the new Rainforest Alliance seal must also sign a License Agreement (2020 Version) with Rainforest Alliance.

Which documents do you need?

Use our Binding Document Finder to determine the documents you need, based on which Rainforest Alliance or UTZ program you are certified under.

Find Binding Documents

Binding Documents by Program


Certification Binding Documents For:

Rainforest Alliance Certification Program

Farms and companies certified to the following standards can find applicable certification binding documents. View all Rainforest Alliance Certification Binding Documents, or view by program:

  • 2020 Certification Program
  • 2017 Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard
  • 2015 Rainforest Alliance Chain of Custody Standard
Certification Binding Documents For:

UTZ Certification Program

Farms and companies certified to the following standards can find applicable certification binding documents. View all UTZ Certification Binding Documents , or view by program:

  • UTZ Code of Conduct
  • Chain of Custody Standard
Certification Binding Documents For:

Rainforest Alliance Cocoa Program

Farms and companies that are part of the Rainforest Alliance cocoa program can find applicable binding documents by clicking the following links:

  • Farm certification
  • Chain of Custody certification
Additional Binding Documents For:

Rainforest Alliance

For farms and companies that are selling, labeling or claiming products as Rainforest Alliance Certified or using the Rainforest Marks. View all Rainforest Alliance Additional Binding Documents or view by topic:

  • Labelling, Use of Marks and Claims Rules
  • Traceability
Certification Binding Documents For:

UTZ
Cocoa Program

Farms and companies that are part of the UTZ cocoa program can find applicable binding documents on utz.org by clicking the following links:

  • Farm certification
  • Chain of Custody certification
Additional Binding Documents For:

UTZ

Farms and companies that are selling, labeling or claiming products as UTZ Certified or using the UTZ Marks can find applicable binding documents by clicking the following links:

  • Labelling, Use of Marks and Claims Rules
  • Traceability

All resources for Binding documents


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Policies and rules

Transition Rules

For 2015 UTZ Certification Program and 2017 Rainforest Alliance Certification Program Certificate Holders wishing to be certified under the 2020 Rainforest Alliance Certification Program
View: Transition Rules

Published on February 18, 2021
Available in: English, Chinese (Simplified), Spanish, French, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Turkish, Vietnamese, German

Topics: 2020 Certification ProgramAssurance systemBinding documentsFarm certificationReimagining CertificationSupply Chain Certification

Annex

Annex S13: Group Member Registry

The Group Member Registry is a binding template that allows Farm certificate holders, especially those under group certification, to upload relevant data from their internal inspections around their
View: Annex S13: Group Member Registry

Published on February 11, 2021
Available in: English

Topics: 2020 Certification ProgramBinding documentsFarm certification

Annex

Annex S4: Remediation Protocol

In accordance with the 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Standard: Farm Requirements and Supply Chain Requirements, the management representative/committee sets out in the Management Plan how to remediate
View: Annex S4: Remediation Protocol

Published on February 10, 2021
Available in: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Indonesian, Chinese (Simplified), Japanese, Turkish, Vietnamese

Topics: 2020 Certification ProgramAssess and AddressBinding documentsFarm certificationSupply Chain Certification

Annex

Annex S15: Additional Details on Conservation and Restoration Areas Outside Farm Boundaries

This annex explains the additional details on the 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Standard: Farm Requirements for natural vegetation with regards to the option of having conservation and restoration
View: Annex S15: Additional Details on Conservation and Restoration Areas Outside Farm Boundaries

Published on January 29, 2021
Available in: English

Topics: 2020 Certification ProgramBinding documentsFarm certification

Annex

Annex S14: Shared Responsibility

This Annex provides interpretations of the key concepts of Sustainability Differential and Sustainability Investments and more details on sector-specific applicability of the requirements.
View: Annex S14: Shared Responsibility

Published on January 29, 2021
Available in: English, Japanese

Topics: 2020 Certification ProgramBinding documentsFarm certificationSupply Chain Certification

Annex

Annex S1: Glossary

A glossary of the terms used in the documents for the 2020 Rainforest Alliance Certification Program.
View: Annex S1: Glossary

Published on January 29, 2021
Available in: English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Indonesian, Chinese (Simplified), Portuguese, Turkish, Vietnamese, Japanese

Topics: 2020 Certification ProgramBinding documentsFarm certificationSupply Chain Certification

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