UK growers intend to walk away from ‘unworkable’ ethical audit
21st September 2024
A new survey conducted by the British Growers Association (BGA) has revealed the true extent of UK grower concerns in regards to changes to the SMETA 7.0 standard.
The British berry industry has made repeated requests for Sedex to pause its proposed changes to the SMETA 7.0 standard over the past few months, claiming they are “unworkable” and cannot be implemented or audited correctly.
The proposed requirements could force growers to pay for the recruitment and transportation fees of the seasonal workers they employ in a so-called ‘employer pays principal’:
According to the latest survey conducted by the British Growers Association (BGA), almost half (46%) of all respondents say they intend to either resign from Sedex or sign up for an alternative ethical audit.
Just 37% of respondents said they intend to continue with Sedex membership and use SMETA 7.0. And, despite claims to the contrary by Sedex, 84% of respondents say they have not been consulted about the SMETA changes.
Unworkable changes
The BGA survey was conducted in July 2024, collecting 169 responses. All respondents were members of crop associations including British Berry Growers, Asparagus Growers Association, British Onions Producer Association, British Leafy Salads Association, Mushroom Growers Group, Rhubarb Growers, Leek Growers and British Apples & Pears Limited.
Jack Ward, CEO of BGA, explained: “We knew there were serious concerns among growers.
“But this survey has given the clearest indication yet of what growers may do in the face of several unworkable changes to this audit.
“Just under a quarter (23%) say they will walk away from Sedex entirely.
“UK growers follow some of the strictest ethical standards in the world. We need to wait for the Defra-funded impact assessment on the employer pays principle to report its findings. Before that proper impact assessment has been completed, there is no place for this new SMETA standard.”
Growers’ voice
In the survey, growers also shared their personal opinions of the proposed changes.
One of them said that the proposal threatens to end the viability of produce production in the UK at a time when we should be striving to produce more.
Someone else added: “As a small grower, under 200 tons of produce, my SMETA audit, including follow up is going to cost nearly £3500. I don’t believe the system protects workers; it is a picture in time of an employer’s administration.”
Another grower said: “The proposed change makes little sense. Once in country and the employer has paid for visas and travel, what is to stop the new employee from leaving and going elsewhere to work? The employee could easily move to a neighbouring farm with no cost to the new employer.”
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