SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit)
Sedex Ethical Trade Audit Methodology
SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit) is an audit report or method: Sedex Ethical Trade Audit Methodology. SMETA is an audit methodology owned and developed by Sedex; it is not a certification scheme. It applies to manufacturing facilities that need a social and ethical compliance audit within a supply chain.
- Class
- Audit report or method
- Scheme owner
- Sedex
- Related sectors
- 1
- Last verified
What is this programme?
SMETA is an audit methodology owned and developed by Sedex; it is not a certification scheme. Sedex's own page states this verbatim: 'Sedex owns and evolves the SMETA methodology.' Sedex has published that 115,000 site visits were carried out in 2024.
Who is it for?
Manufacturing facilities that need a social and ethical compliance audit within a supply chain.
Who issues the certificate?
SMETA does not issue a certificate at the end of an audit; the audit is carried out by a SMETA auditor and the result is shared as an audit report on the Sedex platform.
What to verify before you accept it
Establish that the buyer is asking for a current SMETA audit report, not a 'SMETA certificate' — no such certificate exists. Confirm the report's validity date and audit scope (how many pillars).
What triggers an assessment?
- A buyer or brand requires a SMETA audit.
- A supplier profile will be shared on the Sedex platform.
- An ethical trade audit report is required in the supply chain.
What does it not replace?
- It is not a certificate; the phrase 'we obtained a SMETA certificate' is incorrect — SMETA is an audit methodology, and its output is a report, not a certificate.
- It is not the same as SA8000; SA8000 is an accredited certificate, SMETA produces an audit report.
Official source
Last verified:
This page is for information only; it is not legal advice. A programme appearing here does not mean it is required for your business. This library does not issue certificates.