The SIZA Standards are reviewed every five years, as global stakeholders require that all standards be reviewed regularly to accommodate any new legal or updated requirements.
The SIZA Social Standard was reviewed in 2015, 2018, and 2023, and the latest version of the Standard was published in October 2023.
The Environmental Standard was developed and compiled in 2017, after which it was reviewed for the first time in 2020 and again in 2023.
SIZA supports a robust and transparent process in which all stakeholders in the value chain, including producers, buyers, auditors, industry bodies, consultants, legal experts, and others, are invited to participate to ensure transparency and objectivity.
In any event, where a producer (farm, packhouse, processing facility or secondary subscriber) feels they want to raise a Request for Change to a particular code requirement of the Standard, the SIZA Programme provides the following option:
A formal application to have the SIZA Standard requirements changed or adapted, which will, in turn, impact the SIZA Audit Checklist.
The application process allows registered subscribers of the SIZA programme to formally request a review of a specific code requirement(s) contained in either the SIZA Social or Environmental Standard. The following is relevant to this application:
- According to market requirements, the SIZA Standards must each undergo a review process every five years. Therefore, if an application for change is submitted and accepted, it will form part of the five-year review process cycle.
- The review and approval process for a change must undergo several layers of review, which includes the market’s (buyer’s) permission, as it will influence global market acceptance of the SIZA programme.
- A change to the SIZA code cannot be opposed if it is lower than legislative requirements or ignorant of legislative requirements. Therefore, please review the applicable South African legislation before proposing a change. Also, note that several laws are incorporated in the SIZA Standard requirements, not just the labour laws.
- Any individual or organisation that is a registered SIZA subscriber can apply for a change by completing the application form in full. The outcome will be communicated to the applicant in due course, but it might take some time to reach the outcome as several workgroups and value chain experts are involved in the standard review process.
- The application form to change or adapt a Code Requirement in the SIZA Standard(s) or Policy documents can be downloaded here: Application for Change of the SIZA Standard.
Follow these links to see the different relevant legislation:
