Minimum requirements
The minimum requirements of the Union’s verification framework are:
- Maintaining characteristics of ecosystems and natural habitats: The applicant is not engaged, directly or indirectly, in any processes to convert either natural habitats to agricultural systems or natural forest to other productive systems.
- Agricultural practise: The applicant does not, directly or indirectly, use pesticides banned under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), that fall under WHO Categories I and II and/or are listed in the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade.
- Transparency in benefit sharing: The applicant is not, directly or indirectly, involved in any disputes related to the use of biodiversity and traditional knowledge of substantial magnitude involving a significant number of interests.
- Ethical business relations: The applicant is not, directly or indirectly, involved in any immoral transactions in business relations according to international covenants, national law and practices (OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and UN Convention on Contracts for the Sale of Goods).
- Economic sustainability: The applicant is currently profitable or has a viable plan to become so.
- Respect for human rights: The applicant takes measures to ensure the respect for human rights and there is no evidence of non-respect, nor of restrictive/discriminatory policies or practices.
- Adequate working conditions: The applicant provides adequate housing where required by workers and potable water to all workers.
- Land tenure in line with relevant regulations: The applicant is not, directly or indirectly, engaged in any disputes on land tenure and access of substantial magnitude involving a significant number of interests.