Assurance

Assurance

Regular verification through independent third parties

Verification of whether the standard’s requirements are being met consists of several steps. Every year, participating cotton companies are obliged to submit a self-assessment, which includes information about cotton-related business operations of the previous season as well as a self-evaluation of their compliance with the applicable criteria and indicators. This provides the Aid by Trade Foundation with a basis for external verification by commissioned independent assurance providers and for the monitoring of data-related impact indicators. Both the self-assessment process and the subsequent independent review by third parties are conducted annually. The verification process alternates its focus every year between the cotton fields and the ginneries.

The CmiA certificate for a cotton company is valid for two years. In the first year, the verification takes place at the ginnery level; in the second year, it is conducted at the field level during the cultivation period. Once both have been successfully completed, a new two-year certificate is issued, and the audit cycle starts over. Cotton made in Africa requires these verifications to be conducted exclusively by independent and qualified third parties.

The Aid by Trade Foundation helps cotton companies achieve the stated sustainability goals. Based on the audit findings, each cotton company creates a continuous-improvement plan and establishes concrete goals to be achieved by the next verification.

Non-Compliance: Revocation of the Cotton made in Africa Certificate

Should a Cotton made in Africa verification detect systemic non-compliance with core indicators, the relevant cotton company’s certificate will be revoked. This means that the cotton company is no longer permitted to trade in any CmiA-certified cotton.

Downloads

Welcome to the downloads area! This area contains extensive documents regarding the CmiA Assurance System (standard monitoring system), which supports monitoring and certification for Cotton made in Africa.

Verification Documents

Assurance Manual V1.1

CmiA Appeals Procedure

CmiA Appeals Submission Form

CmiA Appeals Committee Guidelines

Manuel d’assurance qualité V1.1

Formulaire de soumission dappels de CmiA

Directives du comite dappel de CmiA

Procedure dappel de CmiA

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