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.
