Sedex SMETA

In short

SMETA stands for Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit. It checks working conditions against the Ethical Trading Initiative base code and local law. The two-pillar version covers labour standards and health and safety; the four-pillar version adds environment and business ethics.

Audits are done by audit companies approved by Sedex, which are independent from it. The supplier uploads the report to the Sedex platform and can share it with its customers, so it does not need a separate audit for each one. SMETA does not issue a pass or a certificate: the buyer reads the findings and decides.

What it covers

• Labour standards, health and safety
• Environment and business ethics, in the four-pillar version
• One audit shared with several customers

What it does not cover

• It does not certify food safety or product quality
• It is not a certificate: a report with findings, with no pass or fail

Who asks for it

Retailers, brands and importers with ethical sourcing programmes, mostly in the UK and Northern Europe.

How to check a certificate

Ask the supplier to share the audit through the Sedex platform, and check the date, the type of audit and the open findings.

How a company gets it

1. Join Sedex as a supplier member
2. Complete the self-assessment on the platform
3. Book a SMETA audit with a Sedex-approved audit company
4. Share the report with your customers and close the corrective actions

Questions