How does LEAF Marque comply with the EmpCo directive?

LEAF Marque provides assurance across a broad range of farming operations globally that products have been grown using a comprehensive set of environmental farming practices. These are based around the principles of Integrated Farm Management, spanning nine areas including the management of soils, water, biodiversity, waste and energy.

Unlike self-assessed environmental claims, LEAF Marque certification is an independently verified scheme. The scheme is accredited by third-party certification bodies operating under internationally-recognised conformity assessment requirements, specifically ISO/IEC 17065: (Conformity assessment — Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services).

The LEAF Marque logo complies with the EmpCo criteria for sustainability labels through meeting the requirements below:

How LEAF Marque complies:

• LEAF Marque is an independently governed farm-environmental certification scheme.
• Farming business are certified against defined sustainability standards: the principles of Integrated Farm Management. 
• Certified businesses are permitted to use the LEAF Marque logo and associated claims.
• The LEAF Marque standard, System Rules (Scheme Rules) and other key documents for farmers and other stakeholders are publicly available here on the LEAF Marque website.

How LEAF Marque complies:

• LEAF Marque certification is open to any farm business’ products within the standard’s scope providing it meets the required criteria. 
• The process for applying, maintaining, extending certification (and the related timelines) is clearly set out in the LEAF Marque System Rules and supporting documents, and applies consistently to all applicants.
• Decisions regarding certification are made impartially by certification bodies and the LEAF Marque Secretariat, ensuring fair, non-discriminatory access to the scheme for all eligible businesses.

How LEAF Marque complies:

• The LEAF Marque standard is developed and regularly updated with input from a range of experts and stakeholders, including a Technical Advisory Committee.
• Stakeholders are consulted before any revision of the standard. The standard setting procedure and details of consultations are available here.

How LEAF Marque complies:

• LEAF Marque’s System Rules set out clear actions if the scheme’s requirements are not met.
• Any non-conformances identified during an audit must be resolved before certification is granted.
• Certification bodies may also suspend or withdraw certification for wider issues such as further non-conformances, breaches of statutory/regulatory requirements or where misleading or false information has been provided.
• The LEAF Marque logo/claims about certification can only be used products covered by a valid certificate and supported by sufficient traceability and due diligence. The use of the logo may be otherwise withdrawn.

How LEAF Marque complies:

• Participating farming business within the scheme are audited annually by independent, accredited, third-party certification bodies (separate from both LEAF Marque and the certified business).
• All third-party certification bodies are accredited to ISO 17065 with LEAF Marque added to their accreditation scope within 18 months of completing their first LEAF Marque audit. 
• The LEAF Marque System Rules and related governance documents set out additional requirements that implement and, where needed, further specify the requirements of ISO17065 to ensure objective and consistent certification. In addition LEAF Marque performs its own oversight activities of certification bodies conformance within its scheme rules.
• LEAF Marque one of a small number of environmental sustainability standards that is recognised by the European co-operation for Accreditation (EA) following evaluation by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), encompassing review by National Accreditation Bodies in European Member States.