The SIZA programme aims to provide robust assurances for managing risks in the South African agricultural industry supply base. It focuses on the following fundamental principles to mitigate and manage risks:
- Visibility: Buyers and supply-chain stakeholders have visibility on their supply chains
- Transparency and Traceability: Suppliers must be willing to share information on compliance status with buyers.
- Commitment to Improve: Suppliers must demonstrate a commitment to continuously improving compliance.
- Excellent Audit Oversight principles: SIZA drives a continuous improvement process supported by audit oversight principles between audit periods.
All producers, pack houses and processing plants in the agricultural industry can be audited against the SIZA Standard. The Standard accommodates businesses that may include both a farm and a pack house and is inclusive of emerging growers and new members and labour service providers.
As part of the SIZA terms and conditions, members are expected to ensure compliance with the programme requirements throughout each year. To become compliant with the SIZA programme you will have to complete 6 steps:
- Register on the MySIZA Platform and pay your membership fee.
- Complete your SAQ and ensure that it is reviewed and approved in the allocated 90-day period from registration and annually within 90 days of membership renewal.
- Request an audit.
- After the audit, complete your corrective actions which need to be approved by the auditor.
- Your Audit Completion Letter will be available on MySIZA.
- Ensure that you are linked to your buyers.
It is important to note that you cannot claim that you are a compliant member of the SIZA programme until you complete the entire audit process.
It is crucial not to confuse the SIZA Social audit with the SIZA Environmental audit. These are two separate audits, pertaining to two separate Standards. The SIZA Social audit will involve ethical business practices and socially responsible management systems, whilst the SIZA Environmental audit is aimed at environmental sustainability. There are ultimately two different SIZA audits that can be conducted, of which SIZA Environmental can be combined with GLOBALG.A.P.
