Coronavirus-related changes in operations

Dear Fairtrade certified customers,

COVID-19 continues to affect communities in many countries and territories around the world.  Like the many global businesses adjusting their operations to accommodate health and safety protocols, we’ve shifted the way we work too.

For the health and safety of our auditors, customers and their communities, FLOCERT introduced the remote audit methodology in lieu of onsite audits in March 2020. These changes were introduced in consultation with our Scheme Owner – Fairtrade International, while keeping our Accreditation body DAkkS, informed. Both customers and auditors have welcomed this approach and have experienced remote audits to be assuring smooth Fairtrade trading operations.

In 2022, we will continue with this alternative in regions where our careful assessment has proven onsite audits to pose a health risks to either the communities or our auditors.

• If you are a Fairtrade trader or producer:  Any upcoming audit may be converted into a remote audit if an onsite audit is not possible. This in general applies to initial, re-entry and renewal audits. If you have an upcoming Fairtrade audit, our certification analysts will inform you whether this will be conducted remotely or onsite.
• If you belong to customer groups like Artisanal, Small-scale Mining Organisations (ASMO), organisations certified against the Fairtrade Climate Standard or against the Fairtrade Textile Standard, remote auditing is not yet approved as an option by Fairtrade International. We will therefore continue to defer your audits if we are unable to conduct onsite audit, until we receive an approval for alternative solutions.

We will continue to keep you up-to-date with any developments and/or changes.

As always, we are at your disposal for any further questions you may have.

Best regards,

Sugumar Raman

FLOCERT Director of Operations