Buyers most often ask Indian agri suppliers for a social or ethical audit of the plant, a signed supplier code of conduct and evidence on labour, wages, health and safety. Some also want farm-level programmes covering inputs, water use and smallholder income.
What you need depends on who your customers are. Large retailers and brands ask for the most. A small distributor may need only a signed code.
Common checks and documents
- A social audit such as SMETA, with the audit report shared through the Sedex platform.
- SA8000 or similar social certification, held by a smaller number of plants.
- A signed supplier code of conduct covering child labour, forced labour, wages, hours and discrimination.
- Health and safety records, fire safety and first aid at the plant.
- Environmental permits, waste and water handling.
- Farm programmes such as Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade or buyer-run schemes, for some products.
- Questionnaires on land use, deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions.
Plant level, farm level and the law
A plant audit tells you about the processor's own workers. It says little about farms. Spices and seeds bought at APMC auctions pass through many hands, so farm conditions are hard to verify unless you buy from a farmer programme. Be honest with your customers about which level you can evidence.
If farm-level claims matter, you need traceability first. See how to trace a lot back to the farm.
Some European countries have supply chain due diligence laws, such as Germany's supply chain act. The EU adopted a corporate sustainability due diligence directive in 2024, and its scope and timing have since been under revision. These mainly apply to large companies, but they pass questions down to every supplier. Check the current rules for your company with your adviser.
The EU deforestation rules are separate and cover listed commodities only, as explained in what the EU deforestation regulation covers.
Practical approach
- Ask your customers exactly which audit, scheme or questionnaire they require.
- Check if the supplier already holds a recent social audit before ordering a new one.
- Read the audit report, not only the summary, and follow up open issues.
- Visit the plant. Look at worker housing, overtime records and contract labour.
- Avoid claims on pack that you cannot prove.
What to watch for
Social audit reports can be prepared for. Look for signs the paperwork does not match the floor: workers who do not appear on payroll, overtime that is not recorded, or contract labour supplied through agents. Seasonal processing peaks after harvest are when hours rise most. If you can, visit during the peak season rather than in a quiet month, and talk to supervisors about how shifts work.
How we help
We check whether a processor holds a current social audit, visit the plant and report what we see on working conditions. We can also find processors already running farmer programmes for your product. Start with a free sourcing review.