The voluntary self-assessment tool for companies in the agri-food sector has released a new version, which strengthens the occupational health and safety section with new legal references and regulatory comparisons, while the rest of the principles remain unchanged pending future revisions.
The Guiding Principles and Due Diligence Working Group of the Ethical Trade Forums, together with the Health and Safety Working Group, which was responsible for updating the content, has published a new version of the Guiding Principles Checklist—the tool that, since 2021, has served as the basis for member companies to commit to participating in the Forums, and which is integrated into the roadmap that the working group itself develops for its members.
The checklist, which is entirely voluntary, allows members of the Forums, and companies in the sector, to self-assess—or assess their suppliers—against the five Guiding Principles, identifying in a structured manner their strengths and areas for improvement in ethical and social matters.
What has changed regarding the Health and Safety principle?
- A comprehensive review of the indicators for this principle.
- More detailed explanatory notes to facilitate interpretation.
- Two new sections per indicator: applicable legal references and a “principle vs. legislation” comparison, which suggests ways to go beyond the legal minimum.
- An improved visual progress dashboard, with tracking by principle and indicator.
The purpose of this review is to keep the tool updated and in accordance with current regulations. The remaining Guiding Principles—Labor Regulations, Training, Participation in the Forums, and Stakeholder Expectations—remain unchanged in this version.
Next steps: Environmental Sustainability, Best Practices Guide, and public consultation
New developments will be added throughout 2026. These include the incorporation of a new principle dedicated to Environmental Sustainability; the revision of the Best Practices Guide, which was originally published alongside the checklist; and a general review of the remaining Guiding Principles.
The document will remain open for public consultation until the end of 2026, during which time any person or organization interested may submit comments and suggestions to afce@foroscomercioetico.com
We invite all stakeholders of the Ethical Trade Forums to promote this tool among companies in the sector, particularly among producers who are less familiar with social audits and are preparing for one. The Guiding Principles Checklist offers a simple starting point for conducting a self-assessment and identifying potential risk areas to address.