Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audits

The Challenge
Many retailers, supermarkets, brands, suppliers and other organisations are
requesting that the farms, factories, and manufacturers they partner with
participate in Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audits (SMETA) to assure that
ethical trading is taking place. With SMETA audits designed to be accepted by
all Sedex A and AB members as well as other clients and stakeholders, where
does one turn to for:

one format, one audit - a programme that is widely accepted with

less audit fatigue?

support in motivating the workforce, while improving efficiency in

the workplace?

assistance with ethical trading programs currently implemented at

your company?

answers to questions on ethical performance from media, non

governmental organisations, and your clients?

The Solution
SMETA audits are visits to any factory, farm, processer, distribution centre, call
centre or almost any other type of business premises to check that trading is
conducted ethically.

The Process
Document
Review

Factory
Opening Meeting Tour

Worker Interviews

Closing Meeting Pre-Closing Meeting

 This type of audit checks specifically against the ETI base code and how it is spread
to employees and the supply chain, relevant local laws, environmental performance,
treatment of any subcontractors/homeworkers, eligibility to work, and how well the
ETI base code is understood by employees and the supply chain.
Auditor to discuss and then
SMETA Registers on SEDEX and
chooses audit company
leave Corrective Action
Plan summarising any
Workflow (eg Intertek) issues at the site at the
end of the audit.
Site to be audited

Issue Quotation Finalise & Review Report

Audit company - eg
Site to be audited to Audit company - eg INTERTEK
complete Sedex Self INTERTEK
Assessment
Questionnaire on Send Report to Client, and any
SEDEX, then nominate other agreed person(s) and
Quotation Approval.
audit company (eg upload on SEDEX
Intertek) on SEDEX
Client - often site to be audited Audit company - eg
(including choosing the
person to upload the INTERTEK
audit and giving Audit Scheduling & Inform Site
permission to upload the about the audit date and
report). information to prepare Add in evidence to resolve
Audit company - eg any desktop review non
INTERTEK compliances onto SEDEX
for audit company to
review/sign off and or
Inform Client No schedule a follow up audit
Audit if required.
Audit company - eg Conducted Site to be audited
INTERTEK
Ye s

Intertek has been involved since the beginning of development of SMETA. Intertek’s
experienced ethical audit managers are located around the world.
With local auditors in the areas where audits are needed we offer the advantage
of understanding local language(s), the native culture, local laws, and various issues
that are a concern specifically to that region.
Taking into account the loss in production time, disruption to a site by an audit team
can often cost a lot more than the audit itself. Intertek can often bundle other types of
audits, lowering audit fatigue and reducing possibilites of production downtime all while
ensuring any relevant methodologies are followed. With local area help, rapid
response needed for quotes and audits is available.
Intertek’s auditors are highly trained with relevant experience to your industry, ensuring
that the audit is widely accepted by your stakeholders and clients.
For more information from Intertek on this type of audit or for a quote, please contact
smeta@intertek.com.
To contact SEDEX directly:
Website: www.sedex.org.uk
E-mail: helpdesk@sedex.org.uk
China E-mail: helpdeskchina@sedex.org.uk

Regional Contacts
Asia Pacific Europe, Africa, Middle East U.K. Ethical Auditing Admin
Tel: + 852 2713 8888 Tel: + 33 2 32 09 36 36 Tel: + 44 116 263 0330
Fax: + 852 2786 1903 Fax: + 33 2 32 09 36 37 Fax: +44 116 282 4586

Latin America North America

Tel: + 1 305 513 3000 Tel: + 1 630 481 3111
Fax: + 1 305 513 2856 Fax: + 1 630 481 3110