US: SCS welcomes comments on Sustainably Grown Certification Standard
“Sustainably Grown certification recognizes outstanding performance in the production of agricultural crops, and guides producers on a path of continuous improvement,” said Lesley Sykes, SCS Manger of Sustainable Agriculture. “We are pleased to release this next version for review, and look forward to input from the stakeholder community.”
According to Sykes, Version 2.0 modifications include: 1) improved ease-of-use for self-assessment; 2) improved auditability; 3) new optional credits for industry best practices; and 4) updated prohibited and limited use pesticide lists. In addition, Version 2.0 has been benchmarked to the new ANSI/LEO-4000 National Sustainable Agriculture Standard, as well as to the Global Social Compliance Programme (GSCP) Reference Code, to provide increased market recognition opportunities for participating producers.
The standard addresses a broad range of environmental issues, including production system parameters, soil and water resources, air quality, climate change, ecosystem protection, energy efficiency, and waste management. Social responsibility requirements cover work agreements, wages and benefits, working hours, child and slave labor prohibitions, non-discrimination and freedom of association, human resource management, health and safety, and community relations. The standard also includes financial sustainability, product quality and safety, and transparency provisions.
For more information:
SCS Global Services
2000 Powell Street, Suite 600
Emeryville, CA 94608
+1.510-452-8000 main
+1.510-452-8001 fax
[email protected]
www.scsglobalservices.com
