SMETA Audit Services

What is SMETA?

SMETA—Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit—is one of the most widely used social audit methodologies in the world. It is designed to assess an organization’s performance against recognized ethical, labour, health and safety, environmental and business-integrity expectations.

SMETA audits are commonly requested by retailers, manufacturers, brands and international customers as part of their responsible sourcing and supplier approval programs.

SMETA is available in two audit formats:

SMETA 2-Pillar Audit

A SMETA 2-Pillar audit covers:

• Labour standards
• Health and safety

SMETA 4-Pillar Audit

A SMETA 4-Pillar audit includes all areas covered under the 2-Pillar audit, together with:

• Environmental assessment
• Business ethics

The appropriate audit scope depends on the requirements of the customer, buyer, site or supply-chain program.

Areas Covered During a SMETA Audit

Depending on the selected audit scope, our assessment may cover the following areas:

Labour Standards and Human Rights

• Wages, working hours and benefits
• Forced labour and human trafficking
• Child labour prevention
• Freedom of association and collective bargaining
• Non-discrimination and equal opportunity
• Disciplinary practices
• Grievance and complaint mechanisms
• Responsible recruitment practices

Health and Safety

• Workplace risk assessment
• Emergency preparedness and fire safety
• Occupational health and safety controls
• Personal protective equipment
• Machinery and electrical safety
• Chemical handling and storage
• Welfare facilities, hygiene and sanitation
• First aid and medical arrangements
• Worker accommodation, where applicable

Environmental Management

• Environmental policies and responsibilities
• Legal and regulatory compliance
• Energy and water consumption
• Waste management and disposal
• Air emissions and wastewater
• Pollution prevention
• Hazardous substance management
• Environmental objectives and continual improvement

Business Ethics

• Anti-bribery and anti-corruption controls
• Conflicts of interest
• Fraud prevention
• Whistleblowing and reporting mechanisms
• Responsible business policies
• Data, records and business-integrity controls

Our SMETA Audit Process

At EFRAC, we follow a systematic and transparent approach to support an effective audit experience.

1. Initial Enquiry and Audit Planning

We understand your organization’s requirements, site activities, workforce profile, customer expectations and applicable audit scope.

2. Pre-Audit Coordination

Our team coordinates the audit schedule, required information, site details and documentation needed to ensure the assessment is properly planned.

3. Document and Record Review

Relevant policies, procedures and records are reviewed to assess the effectiveness of your management systems and workplace practices.

4. Site Assessment

Our auditors evaluate actual conditions at the facility through:

• Opening and closing meetings
• Management and worker interviews
• Site inspections and workplace observations
• Review of documents and records
• Assessment of health, safety and environmental controls
• Confidential discussions with workers, where applicable

5. Findings and Corrective Actions

Any identified non-conformities or improvement areas are discussed with the site management. Findings are documented clearly, together with appropriate corrective-action expectations.

6. Audit Reporting and Follow-Up

A detailed audit report is prepared in accordance with the applicable SMETA requirements and reporting process. Where necessary, follow-up or corrective-action verification may be conducted to evaluate progress.

Benefits of SMETA Audits

A SMETA audit can help your organization to:

• Demonstrate responsible business practices
• Meet customer and buyer requirements
• Strengthen supplier approval and monitoring programs
• Identify labour, health and safety, environmental and ethical risks
• Improve workplace conditions and employee well-being
• Reduce duplication of social audits across the supply chain
• Support legal and contractual compliance
• Improve transparency with customers and stakeholders
• Build trust and strengthen business relationships
• Promote continual improvement and responsible sourcing

Why Choose EFRAC?

EFRAC combines professional audit expertise with a practical understanding of organizational and supply-chain requirements. Our approach is designed to provide a fair, objective and valuable assessment of your operations.

Our Key Strengths

• Competent and experienced audit professionals
• Structured and transparent audit methodology
• Industry-focused assessment approach
• Clear and practical audit findings
• Confidential handling of information
• Support throughout the audit process
• Reliable reporting and timely communication
• Focus on risk identification and continual improvement

Who Can Benefit from SMETA Audits?

Our SMETA audit services are suitable for:

• Manufacturing facilities
• Food and food-processing businesses
• Suppliers and subcontractors
• Packaging and logistics providers
• Warehouses and distribution centres
• Retail and consumer-product supply chains
• Export-oriented organizations
• Companies working with international brands and customers

Strengthen Your Responsible Sourcing Program

Whether you are preparing for a customer-required audit, evaluating your supplier network or seeking to improve your organization’s ethical and sustainability performance, EFRAC can support you with a professional and objective SMETA audit.

Contact EFRAC today to discuss your SMETA audit requirements and plan your assessment.

Important Terminology

SMETA is an audit methodology, not a certification scheme. A SMETA audit does not result in a formal SMETA certificate. After the audit, an audit report and findings are prepared in accordance with the applicable SMETA and Sedex process.