Union for Ethical Bio Trade (UEBT)
UEBT is a non-profit association that promotes sourcing with respect. UEBT supports and verifies companies’ commitments to innovation and sourcing that contribute to a world in which people and biodiversity thrive. UEBT sets good practices for how companies and their suppliers’ source natural ingredients. UEBT is internationally recognised for its work advancing business contributions to sustainable development goals. UEBT’s certification of natural ingredients assures that a natural ingredient is sourced with respect for people and biodiversity. It attests compliance with the UEBT Ethical Bio Trade Standard. The UEBT standard consists of seven principles touching on important social, environmental and economic issues. INDOCERT has been accredited by UEBT in accordance with the relevant provisions of the UEBT protocols to provide certification according to UEBT ingredient certification and UEBT/Rainforest Alliance Herbs & Spices Programme.
UEBT ingredient certification
The basis for UEBT certification is the UEBT standard. It covers important social, environmental and economic issues related to the sourcing of ingredients from biodiversity. UEBT’s certification of ingredients from biodiversity works to assure that an ingredient is sourced with respect for people and biodiversity. The certification applies to a specific ingredient. Certification is granted once independent audits verify compliance with the UEBT standard in the regions where ingredients from biodiversity are sourced.
Under UEBT ingredient certification, auditors assess the local entity (e.g. company, cooperative or farm) that is responsible for verifying that sourcing practices comply with the UEBT standard, as well as the physical areas and people in the sourcing areas (e.g. forests, agricultural lands, harvesters, farmers, farmworkers, or smallholders).
UEBT and Rainforest Alliance, Herbs & Spices Programme
UEBT and the Rainforest Alliance have developed a joint Herbs & Spices Programme. All ingredients certified under this programme will be able to carry the Rainforest Alliance certification seal.
Programme scope
The programme applies to:
All ingredients for herbal and fruit infusions, including rooibos
Other herbs & spices, including vanilla, chili, and pepper
What standards apply?
In the UEBT/Rainforest Alliance Herbs & Spices Programme the following standards apply:
For ingredient certification (for farms or companies sourcing herbs & spices), the UEBT/Rainforest Alliance requirements apply. There are several exceptions when farms cultivating herbs & spices will be certified against the Rainforest Alliance 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Standard instead.
For supply chain actors that are sourcing certified products from the Herbs & Spices Programme, but that are not certificate holders: the Rainforest Alliance 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Standard’s Supply Chain Requirements apply.
Exceptions
Exception 1 – Cultivation together with other Rainforest Alliance certified crops
For farms that are cultivating herbs, spices, rooibos or other herbal tea ingredients together with coffee, cocoa, tea, fruit, nuts, flowers, vegetables or palm oil, and that wish to use the Rainforest Alliance trademarks and claims for these crops, certification against the Rainforest Alliance 2020 Standard applies. This certification covers all crops cultivated on the farm, including herbs, spices, rooibos and other herbal tea ingredients. For wild collection, an additional certification against the UEBT/Rainforest Alliance requirements is always required in order to use the Rainforest Alliance trademark and claims. For farms that are also cultivating coffee, cocoa, tea, fruits, nuts, flowers, vegetables or palm oil, but do not wish to use the Rainforest Alliance trademarks and claims for these crops, UEBT/Rainforest Alliance requirements apply. This UEBT/Rainforest Alliance certification will cover all herbs, spices, rooibos and other herbal tea ingredients cultivated on the farm (but no other crops). It will also cover wild collection.
Exception 2 – Cultivation of chili or pepper (Piper nigrum)
For farms that are cultivating herbs, spices, rooibos or other herbal tea ingredients together with coffee, cocoa, tea, fruit, nuts, flowers, vegetables or palm oil, and that wish to use the Rainforest Alliance trademarks and claims for these crops, certification against the Rainforest Alliance 2020 Standard applies. This certification covers all crops cultivated on the farm, including herbs, spices, rooibos and other herbal tea ingredients. For wild collection, an additional certification against the UEBT/Rainforest Alliance requirements is always required in order to use the Rainforest Alliance trademark and claims. For farms that are also cultivating coffee, cocoa, tea, fruits, nuts, flowers, vegetables or palm oil, but do not wish to use the Rainforest Alliance trademarks and claims for these crops, UEBT/Rainforest Alliance requirements apply. This UEBT/Rainforest Alliance certification will cover all herbs, spices, rooibos and other herbal tea ingredients cultivated on the farm (but no other crops). It will also cover wild collection.
Connect with our Representative
Sherin Varghese
Phone: +91 6282 018 608
Email: coordinator.sustainability@indocert.org