Growers across the UK are raising alarm over proposed changes to the Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit (SMETA), which would require them to cover the travel and visa costs of seasonal workers.
A survey conducted by the British Growers Association (BGA) has highlighted the depth of concern, revealing that nearly half of respondents are prepared to walk away from the audit if the changes come into effect.
The Sedex audit is crucial for producers who supply major UK retailers, ensuring compliance with ethical standards. However, with Sedex set to implement the new version, SMETA 7.0, from 10 September 2024, growers are questioning the viability of the updated requirements.
According to the BGA survey, almost a quarter (23 per cent) of respondents said they would resign their membership of Sedex entirely if the changes are enforced. A further 23 per cent indicated they would stay within Sedex but opt for an alternative ethical audit, such as GRASP, instead of SMETA. This means that nearly half (46 per cent) of growers are considering leaving SMETA 7.0 behind.
The survey also showed that 37 per cent of respondents would use the SMETA 7.0 audit, but only if retail buyers agreed they did not need to meet the controversial ‘employer pays’ and ‘credible living wage’ sections. Only six per cent said they would remain in Sedex and comply with the new requirements in full.
Contrary to Sedex’s claims, 84 per cent of growers surveyed said they had not been consulted on the proposed changes. Frustration has been mounting within the UK’s agricultural sector, with grower organisations repeatedly calling for Sedex to pause the implementation of SMETA 7.0.
At the core of the debate are plans that would make employers responsible for covering seasonal workers' travel and visa costs, a change many growers deem unworkable. Speaking on behalf of the BGA, CEO Jack Ward expressed concerns: “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 per cent) say they will walk away from Sedex entirely.”
Ward emphasised that the industry is awaiting the results of a Defra-funded impact assessment on the employer pays principle. He urged a delay in implementing SMETA 7.0 until the findings of this assessment are known: “Before that proper impact assessment has been completed, there is no place for this new SMETA standard.”
Growers also voiced their personal concerns anonymously in the survey. One participant warned: “This proposal threatens to end the viability of produce production in the UK at a time when we should be striving to produce more.”
Another smaller producer highlighted the financial burden of the audit: “As a small grower (under 200 tonnes of produce), my SMETA audit (including follow-up) is going to cost nearly £3,500. I don’t believe the system protects workers; it is a picture in time of an employer’s administration.”
Further concerns were raised about the mobility of seasonal workers, with one grower stating: “Once in the UK, a seasonal worker hired by one farm could potentially switch to working at a different farm at no cost to the new employer.”
The BGA survey involved 169 respondents from a range of crop associations, including British Berry Growers, Asparagus Growers Association, and British Apples & Pears. As the clock ticks down to 10 September, growers and industry bodies await the outcome of Sedex’s next move, knowing the future of the UK’s produce sector may hang in the balance.
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