1. SMETA.
Sedex (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange) was created over 10 years ago to create a website and a social compliance website to help reduce the number of pre audit questionnaires sites have to fill in, to share audit reports, and to have an audit that can be shared with multiple end retailers and brands. Sedex charges for retailers, brands, and sites to become members - see attached link - however anyone can book a SMETA audit as this is in the public domain. There is a committed group, called the SSF, that works to update SMETA audit on a regular basis and Bureau Veritas is a key stakeholder in this group.
The SMETA audit (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit) is covering the topics in the ETI base code and auditors audit these topics also against the relevant local law as well as this code. Many SMETA audits are semi announced but this is decided by each retailer/brand.
There are two types of SMETA audit
https://www.sedexglobal.com/products-services/smeta-audit/
(a) The 2 pillar audit, that is the most common type, that most retailers ask for
(b) The 4 pillar type that has been mostly adopted by the large food brands and has two extra topics (and an extra half day) - integrity and a deeper look at environmental performance.
It is mostly UK retailers/brands and food brands asking for/accepting SMETA audits but some US retailers are now accepting this so a common choice to help reduce audit fatigue.
2. PAS
PAS, is known as Portable Auditing System, is BV reporting instrument. This tool helps in recording exceptions to compliance requirements in BV's proprietary scorecard reporting platform, which allocates different numerical weightings to individual requirements and sections of the BV scorecard reporting tool depending on the severity of the audit non-conformance. BV Reporting instrument is comprised of 13 sections. Each section is rated based on its significance and risk level. In addition a color code (Red, Orange, Yellow and Green) is assigned based on most severe non- conformance to indicate the relative risk of the supplier delivering product., The scope of PAS covers: Child labor, Forced labor, Harassment, Wages and Benefits, Hours of Work, Health and Safety, Non discrimination, Women's Rights, Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining, Environment, Subcontracting, Communication and Monitoring and Compliance. PAS is and effective Monitoring and Evaluation of Improvement, can be customized to meet specific customer or industry risk weightings, focuses on Management system also and not just on Non-conformance. PAS is widely accepted by most UK and US Brands and is most effective tool for self-evaluation.
3. ICS
ICS audit still requires booking via ICS platform.