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Our Codes of Good Practice

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Watch a video on credibility in standard-setting


Credible standard-setters know that it’s the quality of their standard-setting process commits to the standard and who uses the standard. This video explains what is involved in good standard-setting. More on our multimedia page...

Martina Zeballa, factory worker, Bolivia © Hugo Lara Rainforest Alliance
Martina Zeballa, factory worker, Bolivia © Hugo Lara Rainforest Alliance
“ISEAL helps to question some processes and to bring more structure and transparency into the member organisation,” Forest Stewardship Council
Sustainability standards need to operate effectively to deliver on their social and environmental goals. ISEAL's Codes of Good Practice are seen as global references for developing credible standards.

All steps in the standards and certification process, including standard-setting, assurance (certification and accreditation) and impact assessment have a role to play in the effectiveness of a system.  ISEAL builds understanding of good practices for standards systems and sets internationally applicable good practice guidance for the implementation of credible standards systems. These Codes of Good Practice are applied by leading standards systems and compliance is an ISEAL membership requirement.

ISEAL is also currently leading a global consultation on the ISEAL Credibility Principles, which will articulate the values upon which credible standards are built and which underpin our Codes of Good Practice. The second consultation runs until 30 April 2013.  We are actively reaching out to all stakeholders to give us your input.

The ISEAL Codes of Good Practice are effective screens for assessing the credibility of sustainability standards. Institutions and companies make reference to and use the Codes in a variety of ways for purchasing and policy. Recent references to the Codes include:

Volkopi Coffe community outreach specialist, Indonesia © Noah Jackson, 2011
Assurance Code
ISEAL has developed a Code of Good Practice for Assuring Compliance with Social and Environmental Standards (the Assurance Code). Our members know that effective, high quality, efficient assurance is not only critical, but also challenging.
Sunita was rescued, by GoodWeave, from a life of child labour in a carpet factor
Standard-Setting Code
The ISEAL Code of Good Practice for Setting Social and Environmental Standards (Standard-Setting Code) defines effective standard-setting processes, thereby increasing the credibility of the resulting standard.
Skipper-Glen-Hill-from-the-MSC-Certified-Lakes-and-Coorong-Fishery-in-Austalia.-
Impacts Code
The ISEAL Code of Good Practice for Assessing the Impacts of Social and Environmental Standards (Impacts Code) helps standards systems to better understand the sustainability results of their work, as well as the effectiveness of their programs.