VERIFICATION REGULATIONS

4C VERIFICATION REGULATIONS
VERSION 2.1 | APRIL 2016
To have an average yellow performance within each of the three dimensions of the 4C Code of
Conduct,
To grant verifiers access to information during the verification in the field.
Once the license is granted, the following requirements apply:
To commit to continuous improvement (provide IP, eliminate red practices),
To ensure periodic monitoring of 4C Units (via Annual Update on BPM, SA, IP, Pesticide use report
and Commercial Reporting),
To comply with rules for trading 4C Compliant Coffee.
Each requirement is presented in three parts:
Requirement: what is expected from the 4C Units;
Guidance: how to understand and implement the requirement; and
Verification: how the requirement is verified and consequences of failing compliance.
6.1 INTERNAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (IMS) BY 4C UNITS
Requirement: 4C Units MUST implement an Internal Management System which ensures that the 4C Code
of Conduct and other requirements are properly put into practice by the Managing Entity and all Business
Partners within the 4C Unit. During the initial verification a basic level IMS MUST be implemented. By the
end of the first 3 year cycle, at the time of re-verification, an upgrade to the Intermediate level IMS MUST
have been achieved and be functional.
Guidance: The 4C Unit concept is unique in many aspects. It allows 4C Members to include as many
Business Partners within their supply chain as their management capacity can cover, therefore, an IMS is an
absolute requirement.
As many 4C Units implement the 4C Code of Conduct alongside other sustainability schemes like the UTZ
Certified Code, C.A.F.E Practices, SAN or Fairtrade standards, having one IMS/ICS system covering the
requirements of different schemes is a big advantage for 4C Units.
Not achieving the basic level of the required IMS means that no 4C License will be issued except for 4C
Units being single estates or plantations.
There are three levels of an IMS - basic, intermediate and advanced - as illustrated in the table below. Each
higher level adds to the level(s) beneath it. For each level, there are elements and indicators which help 4C
Units
and indicators of the IMS at levels basic and intermediate are described with specific guidance on Annex
10.2.
Verification: During verification, 4C Verifiers use the elements and indicators provided in the IMS Matrix as
a guidance.
© 2016 | Coffee Assurance Services | Page 15 of 72