Get Certified

 

Get Certified 

If you are considering certification or have already applied, these pages are for you.  The steps you will need to take to obtain certification are below. Certification is only available to UEBT members. You can learn about UEBT member requirements below and apply for membership and certification at the same time (Step 1 below).

Already a UEBT member? Or already submitted a certification + membership application ? Read next steps and access further documents and information from the buttons. 

Steps to Certification

1)     Apply – submit your certification application to UEBT if you have not already done so. The application form covers UEBT membership and certification. If you are already a UEBT member, email us to get your application form to apply for certification alone. See more below on UEBT’s membership requirements for certification and what exceptions apply.

2)     Review – read through the standard and checklists the auditors will use to make sure you understand the requirements to obtain certification.

3)     Prepare for Audit – implement practices, do your own internal checks and then contact an external certification body to schedule your audit. Be sure to schedule the audit when you feel that you are well prepared and will have good results.

4)     Develop a Workplan – after you receive the audit results, you may be asked to develop a workplan that includes corrective actions.  Your audit team will share more information on this during the audit process.

5)     Communicate and Make Claims – you can make UEBT certification claims once you receive your certificate and receive an approval for your claim or label use. For ingredients certified under the UEBT/Rainforest Alliance Herbs & Spices Programme, the Rainforest Alliance Labeling and Trademarks Policy applies. 

Membership Requirements  

All organisations seeking UEBT (or UEBT/Rainforest Alliance) certification must become UEBT members, with membership adjusted to different types of organisations.

  • For organisations seeking certification that are directly responsible for cultivation or wild collection practices (these organisations are called ‘Organisations at Source’ in the UEBT system and are generally located in sourcing areas), an integrated approach to UEBT membership may apply. In this integrated approach, the membership assessment, which is a check of the company’s compliance with UEBT minimum requirements and their commitment to ethical sourcing, is conducted as part of, and at the same time as, the certification audit.  Learn more about the requirements. There is a membership fee, but no application fee in this approach.

  • For farms and producer associations such as cooperatives, membership is optional if the organisation’s annual turnover is less than 2 million Euros. If these farms or associations opt for UEBT membership, the integrated membership process applies, but there is no membership fee.

  • For organisations seeking certification that are not directly responsible for cultivation or wild collection practices (e.g. manufacturers or brands buying from traders or not working in the sourcing area), the standard membership process applies. Learn more about the membership process and requirements.

Costs

Learn more here.

Have questions? 

You can reach out to us anytime at certification@uebt.org 

Herbs and Spices Programme:  herbsandspices@uebt.org