Introduction
The minimum levels are globally applicable must be used as pre-requisites in order to reduce basic risks for the customers. The goal for organisations and their supplying farms is for all applicable local laws in relation to human rights, animal welfare, protection of HCV and deforestation to be complied with in full and without exception and at all times. Implementing organisations will also assess the risk of non-compliance with other local laws directly relevant to 11 DSF criteria and identify where policies must be developed and implemented to treat this risk.
The SDP model recognises the main conventions in any of the minimum level criteria but allows the producer or processor to provide a credible and equivalent translation of those conventions to aid implementation and the desired outcomes.
The SDP model calls out within the matrix stages the specific activities within each criterion that implementing companies must focus on. Using the matrix journey and methodology the SDP minimum levels will be annually verified to ensure that all efforts are made to comply with the SDP model requirements.
The guiding principle for all minimum levels is that risks for non-compliance with the minimum levels must be identified and, if applicable, policies must be developed and implemented to address and support alignment with these minimum levels.
Risks for non-compliance with the minimum levels need to be regularly evaluated.
Human Rights, Animal Welfare, and deforestation will be included as part of the materiality assessment and the verification of the materiality assessment will ensure that this has been carried out effectively. Evaluation of the minimum levels will require expertise in the relevant specialist areas and will be carried out by suitably experienced and qualified personnel