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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:

Certification Programs

Farms and companies certified to the following standards can find applicable binding documents:

  • Rainforest Alliance Certification Program (2020 Certification Program)
  • 2017 Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard*
  • 2015 Rainforest Alliance Chain of Custody Standard*
  • UTZ Program*

*Standards currently being phased out

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
  • Supply Chain Certification
Additional Binding Documents

Labels & Traceability

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

  • Labelling, Use of Marks and Claims Rules
  • Traceability

Terms & Conditions

  • Platform Terms & Conditions
  • License Agreement Terms & Conditions

All resources for Binding Documents


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Terms & Conditions

Rainforest Alliance License Agreement General Terms and Conditions

View: Rainforest Alliance License Agreement General Terms and Conditions

Published on January 28, 2022
Available in: English

Topics: 2015 Chain of Custody Standard2017 Sustainable Agriculture Standard2020 Certification ProgramBinding DocumentsCertificationCocoaFarm CertificationSupply Chain CertificationSustainability LabelsTraceability

Policies and rules

Policy for Farm and Supply Chain Certification in Cocoa

This policy sets out specific implementation requirements for certificate holders at both producer and supply chain actor levels (Certification requirements) and for reinforcing the assurance process
View: Policy for Farm and Supply Chain Certification in Cocoa

Published on December 17, 2021
Available in: English, French

Topics: 2020 Certification ProgramAssurance SystemBinding DocumentsCertificationCocoaFarm CertificationSupply Chain CertificationSustainability LabelsTraceability

Certification Standard

Partial remote audits for high and very high risk groups in Côte d’Ivoire

This document sets out the certification procedure for (currently RA 2017 or UTZ certified) high and very high risk groups in Côte d’Ivoire applying for a transition audit for the October 2021 harvest
View: Partial remote audits for high and very high risk groups in Côte d’Ivoire

Published on September 2, 2021
Available in: English, French

Topics: Binding DocumentsCertificationCocoaCôte d’IvoireFarm Certification

Policies and rules

Audit Allocation System: Implementation in Ivory Coast and Ghana

The Audit Allocation system is a new approach that Rainforest Alliance will implement in Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana from June 2020 to strengthen assurance of our certification system.
View: Audit Allocation System: Implementation in Ivory Coast and Ghana

Published on April 14, 2020
Available in: English, French

Topics: 2017 Sustainable Agriculture StandardAssurance SystemBinding DocumentsCertificationCocoaCôte d’IvoireFarm CertificationGhana

Policies and rules

Policy on Certification Requirements for Certificate Holders on Year Three

View: Policy on Certification Requirements for Certificate Holders on Year Three

Published on December 10, 2019
Available in: English, Spanish, Portuguese

Topics: 2017 Sustainable Agriculture StandardAssurance SystemBinding DocumentsCertificationCocoaFarm Certification

Policies and rules

Traceability Guidelines

Policy & Guidelines for Products Traded as Rainforest Alliance Certified™
View: Traceability Guidelines

Published on October 19, 2018
Available in: English, Japanese

Topics: Assurance SystemBinding DocumentsCertificationCocoaFarm CertificationSupply Chain CertificationTraceability

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