The Rooibos industry aims to remain pro-active with regards to sustainable development and the promotion of best practices throughout the supply chain. Rooibos has a unique context and rather than being subjected to “external” standards and certification schemes we have developed a Right Rooibos sustainability standard, which considers the legislative, geographical, environmental, social, economic and institutional context of Rooibos and serves to inform producers, businesses, stakeholders, government and international certification systems of the standards the Rooibos industry sets for itself. It forms the foundation of collaboration and negotiation with international sustainability and ethical Standards bodies. It has already been instrumental in the development of the Utz Rooibos code of conduct, and informs the development of the Rainforest Alliance Interpretation Guidelines for Rooibos certification.

Die Standaard vorm ook die raamwerk vir skakeling met regeringsinstansies, veral met betrekking tot streeksontwikkeling en -aksieplanne. Nakoming van die kriteria van die standaard sal op verskeie vlakke gemotiveer word en ondersteuning sal veral aan produsente verleen word vir implementering van die standaard. Indien die mark dit vereis mag dit ook die basis van ‘n sertifiseringstelsel vorm.

Die Standaard is tans slegs in Engels beskikbaar maar sal binnekort vertaal word na Afrikaans. Laai die Right Rooibos Standaard hier af, of kry dit in die webblad biblioteek. U is welkom om enige tyd kommentaar te lewer op die Standaard.

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