How do you know that farmers and others in the supply chain are complying with the 4C Code of Conduct?

The 4C Association has developed an innovative and easily accessible verification system, which is credible, efficient and independent. The 4C Verification process starts with a self-assessment by the 4C Unit as well as a mapping of all business partners in the 4C Unit and an organizational chart of the Unit. This is the basis for a verification visit. 

After these documents are completed and submitted to the 4C Secretariat, a third party verifier will visit the 4C Unit and verify its self-assessment.

The verifier checks documents and procedures, carries out interviews and collects other evidence, as well as making random checks of 50% of the square root of all individual farmers and other partners involved in the business.

The verification system helps the 4C Units and their partners identify areas for improvement. If the verification is positive, 4C Units receive a license to sell 4C Compliant Coffee. 

Can a 4C Unit be verified without previously carrying out a self-assessment?

No. Before applying for 4C Verification, 4C Units must carry out a self-assessment and ensure that all business partners have excluded the 10 Unacceptable Practices and reached the minimum average yellow performance assessed against the 4C Code Matrix. 

The 4C Association provides tools to the 4C Units to perform this task:

  • Business Partner Mapping: a form where all business partners are listed with their respective production data and assessment result in each dimension of sustainability of the 4C Code of Conduct.
  • Self-Assessment – based on the performance assessment of the business partners of the 4C Unit, the entire 4C Unit will assess itself on an aggregate level. The Self Assessment form reflects the result of this aggregate assessment.
  • Organisational chart – besides the above forms, an organisational chart is also required, showing the structure of the 4C Unit and explaining how it works.

The verification visit is organised once the 4C Unit has filled out the forms correctly and has proven, through self-assessment that the Unit has excluded the 10 unacceptable practices and reached the average yellow level. 

Who does the verification?

Professional, independent third-party companies conduct 4C Verifications. These third party companies are accredited against ISO/Guide 65 or equivalent. Additionally, verifiers have to meet certain qualification criteria to work for the 4C Association. Verifiers must:

  • have inspection/ system auditing experience;
  • have background and experience in the coffee sector;
  • have successfully participated in 4C Verifier Training;

Check the list of 4C approved verifiers here.

What happens if the verifier finds out that a new 4C Unit has red practices during 4C verification?

Given the continuous improvement approach, at the entry level and after they have excluded the 10 Unacceptable Practices, 4C Units are only required to reach average-yellow performance per dimension, to receive their 4C Licence. Average-yellow per dimension means that within one dimension there may still be some red practices, as long there are an equal number of green ones to balance them out. 

If red practices outnumber green practices, the 4C Secretariat will not issue a 4C Licence to the 4C Unit and the Unit will not be able to sell its coffee as 4C Compliant. If green practices outnumber red practices, a 4C Unit will receive a 4C License. A re-verification after three years will check the continuous improvement and achievements of the 4C Unit.

What are the costs of 4C Verification?

There is no set price for the verification of a 4C Unit as these costs depend on different factors such as the daily rate of the verifier, traveling expenses, accommodation, per diem, traveling time etc. These factors also vary depending on the region and country in which the verification takes place. According to 4C Association’s experience, the average cost per external verification (audit) is approximately € 2,800. This figure varies depending mainly on the geographical location of the 4C Unit and its business partners and on the number of business partners within a given 4C Unit. It is also important to note that often there is more than one auditing company approved by the 4C Association to carry out 4C verifications in a region. Therefore, the 4C Units can request several offers from the different approved verifiers and choose the one which offers the cheapest rate.

Check the list of 4C approved verifiers here.

How often do verifications take place?

A 4C License based on the results and recommendations from independent third-party verifiers is valid for three years. After this period, a new verification visit will take place (re-verification). During the 3-year interim period, 4C Units must conduct self-assessments on a yearly basis and send their results to the 4C Secretariat. If they are expanding to include more farmers, 4C Units may be visited every year.

In addition, 4C verifiers conduct unannounced random verification visits in different regions to ensure the credibility of the entire system.

Do the 4C verifiers announce verification visits in advance?

4C Units and verifiers agree the dates for the 4C verifications between themselves. The verifiers do not announce the names of the farmers and business parterns they will visit in advance. This is common practice in verification/certification audits.