Is Sedex a Certification? SMETA Audits Explained in Simple Words

 

A buyer sends you an email: "Please join Sedex and complete a SMETA audit." Many suppliers then search for "Sedex certification" and get confused. Here is the short answer.

Sedex is not a certificate, and SMETA is not a certificate either. Sedex is an online platform where suppliers and buyers share information about working conditions. SMETA is a type of audit that you can upload to that platform. After the audit you get a report and an action plan, not a certificate.

This guide explains what that means in practice, what an auditor checks, and how to get ready. If you want the bigger picture first, read our Sedex ethical supply chain guide.

What is Sedex?

Sedex is a membership platform. Companies join it to share data about how they treat workers, keep sites safe, protect the environment and run their business honestly.

There are two main sides:

• Suppliers (factories, farms, processors) upload information about their site.
• Buyers (brands, retailers, importers) look at that information to understand risk in their supply chain.

The big benefit is sharing. You enter your data once, and several buyers can see it, instead of answering a different questionnaire for each customer.

What is SMETA?

SMETA stands for Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit. It is a social audit method. An approved audit company visits your site, talks to workers and managers, checks your records and writes a report.

SMETA is built around international labour standards and good practice. It has no pass or fail mark. The report lists what the auditor found, and you agree an action plan to fix any problems.

The current version is SMETA 7.0. (Verify with Sedex that this is still the latest.)

So is there a "Sedex certificate"?

No. Here is how the pieces compare.

	Sedex	SMETA	ISO certificate (for example ISO 9001)
What it is	An online platform	An audit method	A management system certificate
Who issues what	Sedex runs the platform	An approved audit company writes the report	An accredited certification body issues the certificate
What you get	A place to share data	An audit report and a corrective action plan	A certificate valid for three years
Pass or fail	No	No	Certificate is issued or withheld

Some websites sell "Sedex certification". Be careful with that wording. What you can have is a Sedex membership and one or more SMETA audit reports on the platform. If a provider promises you a "Sedex certificate", ask them what exactly you will receive.

2-pillar and 4-pillar audits

A SMETA audit covers either two or four areas, called pillars.

• 2-pillar audit: labour standards, and health and safety.
• 4-pillar audit: the same two, plus environment and business ethics.

Your buyer decides which one you need. Ask them before you book.

What an auditor checks

The auditor looks at documents, walks around the site and interviews workers. Here are the main areas.

Labour standards

• Written contracts and payslips
• Working hours and overtime records
• Wages against the legal minimum and what you promised
• Age checks for all workers
• No forced labour: for example, no holding of passports and no unfair deductions
• How workers were recruited, including any recruitment fees
• A way for workers to raise complaints
• Freedom to join or form worker groups where the law allows

Health and safety

• Fire exits that are clear and marked
• Fire drills and records
• Machine guarding and safe use of equipment
• Chemical storage and labels
• Training and protective equipment
• Worker housing, if you provide it, and its condition

Environment (4-pillar only)

• Permits and legal compliance
• Waste handling and disposal
• Energy, water and emissions tracking, as appropriate

Business ethics (4-pillar only)

• Policies on bribery and fair dealing
• How you check your own suppliers and subcontractors

(Check Sedex's current SMETA documents for the exact scope of each pillar.)

Common findings

These are the problems auditors raise again and again:

• Overtime records that don't match payslips
• Workers who don't know their rights or how to complain
• Blocked or locked fire exits
• Missing age records or contracts
• Chemicals stored without labels
• Recruitment fees paid by workers that were never repaid
• Subcontracted work that isn't declared

[Add 2 or 3 real, anonymised examples from your clients here.]

Workers are interviewed in private, so what they say matters as much as what your files say. If your records look perfect but workers tell a different story, the auditor will report the difference.

What happens after the audit

1. You receive a report and a corrective action plan. The plan lists each finding, what to fix and by when.
2. You agree the plan. Management signs it.
3. The documents go onto the Sedex platform. Your buyers can view them, depending on how you share them.
4. You fix the findings and upload proof. Photos, records and policy updates are common.
5. A follow-up may be needed. Some findings can be checked from the documents. Others need a visit.

(Check Sedex's current rules for deadlines, publication timing and follow-up audit limits.)

A finding is not a failure. Suppliers who fix problems quickly and show proof are usually in a better position with buyers than those who say they have none.

How to get ready: simple steps

1. Ask your buyer what they need. SMETA or another audit? 2-pillar or 4-pillar?
2. Join Sedex as the right member type.
3. Complete the self-assessment questionnaire honestly. Update it when things change. (Use the current version.)
4. Choose an approved audit company. Sedex lists them on its site. Compare quotes.
5. Run your own check first. Use a checklist to find gaps before the audit.
6. Brief your managers and workers. Workers should know the audit is happening and that they can speak freely.
7. Book the audit when you are ready, not under pressure.

How much does it cost?

Costs fall into three parts:

• Sedex membership: the fee depends on the membership type. (Check Sedex's current fees.)
• The audit: the audit company sets the price. It depends on the number of workers, the number of sites, the number of pillars, the audit days and the country.
• Your own costs: staff time, fixing safety issues, updating records, and consultant fees if you use one.

Ask each audit company for the number of audit days it assumes, whether the report fee is separate, and what a follow-up costs.

Mistakes to avoid

1. Treating SMETA as a certificate to hang on the wall. Buyers want to see the report and your action plan.
2. Cleaning up records at the last minute. Auditors check dates and compare them with worker interviews.
3. Not briefing workers. Surprised or scared workers can lead to poor interview results.
4. Ignoring subcontractors. Hidden subcontracting is a serious finding.
5. Paying for a "certificate" that doesn't exist. Always ask what you will receive.
6. Closing actions without fixing the cause. Buyers can see repeat findings.

Questions people ask

Is Sedex mandatory?
No law says you must join Sedex. Many buyers, especially brands and retailers, ask their suppliers to join and share audit reports.

Does Sedex issue a certificate?
No. Sedex is a platform. You receive an audit report and a corrective action plan, not a certificate.

What is the difference between Sedex and SMETA?
Sedex is the platform and membership. SMETA is the audit method used by approved audit companies.

How long is a SMETA report valid?
Buyers usually expect a recent audit, often within a year or two. Ask your buyer what they accept. (Verify typical audit cycles.)

Can one SMETA audit be shared with several buyers?
Yes. That is one of the main benefits, because buyers can view the report on the platform if you share it.

Is SMETA the same as an ISO certificate?
No. ISO certification is a management system certificate from an accredited body. SMETA is a social audit report.

Do you need a consultant?
Not always. A consultant can help you prepare, check your records and fix gaps, but the audit itself is done by an approved audit company.

Want to see where your site stands?

Download our free Sedex readiness checklist. It covers labour, health and safety, environment and business ethics, so you can find gaps before the auditor does.

[Download the Free Sedex Checklist]

If you want help, send us your buyer's request. We will tell you what it asks for and what to fix first. For the full overview, see our ethical supply chain compliance guide, and for the membership steps, see our Sedex membership and SMETA audit guide.

PopularCert is a consultancy. We help you prepare. The audit is carried out by an approved audit company, and we can't guarantee the outcome.