Tobacco Leaf Curing Certification
Using curing fuel traced to its source and assessed for deforestation and land-use risks. Recording fuel consumption and applying forest-risk management and restoration measures.
Independent assessment of curing fuel, sourcing records and forest-risk controls.
About the certification
Friend of the Earth tobacco curing certification assesses fuel sourcing and management within a defined curing supply chain. Fuel-origin records, consumption data and forest-risk controls provide the evidence for assessment.
Certification concerns the assessed curing-fuel scope; it does not make a claim about the health effects of tobacco products.
What can be certified
Companies can apply for assessment of their tobacco-curing fuel sourcing and management. The certification team confirms eligibility and scope against the published standard. The proposed scope should identify the company, countries, tobacco-growing areas, farmers, curing centres and fuel sources involved.
Describe whether you contract directly with farmers, purchase through a supplier that contracts with farmers, or source through auctions, markets or other intermediaries. The team will confirm the evidence and assessment arrangements appropriate to your supply chain.
What the standard covers
Record tobacco production and purchases, fuel types and quantities, and the number and type of curing barns. Fuel-use surveys and consumption studies support these records. Information must reflect the supply-chain arrangement and the activities being assessed.
Identify the fuels used and document the tobacco volumes cured with each source. Evaluate wood-based fuels and agricultural fuels against the standard’s definitions. Record coal and other fossil-fuel use, together with initiatives to reduce coal use and increase renewable fuels.
Maintain evidence connecting curing fuel to its origin. For firewood, documentation identifies the source of harvest or plantation and the quantities supplied. Purchase and supplier records support the review of externally sourced fuel.
Map relevant forest areas and assess deforestation and land-use risks. Monitoring and mitigation plans must respond to the identified risk categories. The wood-fuel criteria exclude primary and protected forests, and plantations established through natural-forest conversion after 1 January 2006.
Document initiatives for firewood self-sufficiency, with objectives, methods, species and timelines. Quantified evidence supports the assessment of supply. Record progress on relevant forest restoration or compensation initiatives.
Maintain policies, procedures, controls and records covering the sites and farms in scope. Assign technical oversight, identify relevant stakeholders and document engagement, training and communication activities. These arrangements support consistent collection and review of the evidence.
Traceability through the curing supply chain
Fuel-origin records and tobacco purchase data help establish which sourcing arrangements are covered. Keep the certification claim linked to that defined scope. Certification of a supplier does not automatically establish certification of every product sold by its customers.
Independent certification
An independent certification body reviews the relevant activities, sites and supporting evidence. Findings and corrective actions are considered before the certification decision. Essential and Important criteria are compulsory; recommendations are assessed separately. The certification body confirms which criteria apply and how each finding must be addressed.
How certification works
1 Apply: Submit the Preliminary Information Form, describing the company, tobacco supply, curing activities, locations and fuel sources you want assessed.
2 Confirm scope and costs: Confirm the proposed scope, the Agriculture-policy equivalence check, the applicable agreement and fees, and the certification body’s audit quotation before proceeding.
3 Independent audit: Provide access to the relevant sites and evidence. Prepare sourcing and purchase records, fuel-use and barn data, forest-risk information, management procedures and records of implementation.
4 Address findings: Complete the required corrections or corrective-action plan and provide supporting evidence within the applicable deadlines. The certification body will explain the procedure for each finding.
5 Certification decision: The certification body reviews the assessment and decides whether certification can be issued for the defined scope. Any certification wording must identify what the certificate covers.
6 Maintain certification: Continue meeting the applicable criteria, keep supporting records current and complete the required follow-up assessments. Use of the logo remains subject to authorisation and the usage rules.
Certification fees
Confirm the annual logo-use royalties applicable to your proposed scope before proceeding. Audit costs are separate and quoted by the certification body. VAT is additional where applicable. Send details of the activities, locations and supply-chain arrangements to obtain the applicable price list and an audit quotation.
Standards and supporting documents
Check certification status
Use the Friend of the Earth ID to find the certification record. Check the certificate holder, assessed scope, status and validity dates. A company name in the directory does not mean that every activity or product of that company is certified.
Frequently asked questions
The assessment focuses on curing fuel, its origin, consumption records and associated forest-risk controls. Describe your activities when applying so the team can confirm eligibility and scope under the published standard.
Certification covers the activities and supply chain identified in the approved scope. Other activities and products are not automatically covered.
No. Certification concerns the curing-fuel arrangements within the approved scope. Agricultural production and other activities are not automatically certified.
Yes. Its origin and sourcing evidence must be documented and assessed. Purchasing from a supplier does not remove the need for the relevant records.
Explain your sourcing arrangement in the application. The team will confirm the information needed and the applicable route for collecting evidence.
No. Fuel type alone does not establish conformity. The source, supporting documentation and applicable criteria must be assessed.
Prepare the documents relevant to your proposed scope, including fuel and tobacco records, barn information, sourcing evidence, forest-risk plans and management procedures. The team will confirm the full evidence list.
No. This programme concerns curing fuel and associated sourcing practices. It makes no claim that tobacco use is safe.
Only after certification approval and the applicable logo-use authorisation are in place. A certified supplier does not automatically transfer label-use rights to your business.
Check the issue and expiry dates and current status in the certification record. The certification body will confirm the follow-up assessment arrangements for your scope.
Apply for tobacco curing certification
Tell us about the tobacco you grow or purchase, the farmers and curing centres involved, the fuel used to cure it and the countries and activities you want assessed. Our team will confirm the scope and next steps.
The Preliminary Information Form is confidential and does not commit you to proceeding with an audit.
Tobacco Leaf Curing Certification
Independent assessment of curing fuel, sourcing records and forest-risk controls.
About the certification
Friend of the Earth tobacco curing certification assesses fuel sourcing and management within a defined curing supply chain. Fuel-origin records, consumption data and forest-risk controls provide the evidence for assessment.
Certification concerns the assessed curing-fuel scope; it does not make a claim about the health effects of tobacco products.
What can be certified
Companies can apply for assessment of their tobacco-curing fuel sourcing and management. The certification team confirms eligibility and scope against the published standard. The proposed scope should identify the company, countries, tobacco-growing areas, farmers, curing centres and fuel sources involved.
Describe whether you contract directly with farmers, purchase through a supplier that contracts with farmers, or source through auctions, markets or other intermediaries. The team will confirm the evidence and assessment arrangements appropriate to your supply chain.
What the standard covers
Record tobacco production and purchases, fuel types and quantities, and the number and type of curing barns. Fuel-use surveys and consumption studies support these records. Information must reflect the supply-chain arrangement and the activities being assessed.
Identify the fuels used and document the tobacco volumes cured with each source. Evaluate wood-based fuels and agricultural fuels against the standard’s definitions. Record coal and other fossil-fuel use, together with initiatives to reduce coal use and increase renewable fuels.
Maintain evidence connecting curing fuel to its origin. For firewood, documentation identifies the source of harvest or plantation and the quantities supplied. Purchase and supplier records support the review of externally sourced fuel.
Map relevant forest areas and assess deforestation and land-use risks. Monitoring and mitigation plans must respond to the identified risk categories. The wood-fuel criteria exclude primary and protected forests, and plantations established through natural-forest conversion after 1 January 2006.
Document initiatives for firewood self-sufficiency, with objectives, methods, species and timelines. Quantified evidence supports the assessment of supply. Record progress on relevant forest restoration or compensation initiatives.
Maintain policies, procedures, controls and records covering the sites and farms in scope. Assign technical oversight, identify relevant stakeholders and document engagement, training and communication activities. These arrangements support consistent collection and review of the evidence.
Traceability through the curing supply chain
Fuel-origin records and tobacco purchase data help establish which sourcing arrangements are covered. Keep the certification claim linked to that defined scope. Certification of a supplier does not automatically establish certification of every product sold by its customers.
Independent certification
An independent certification body reviews the relevant activities, sites and supporting evidence. Findings and corrective actions are considered before the certification decision. Essential and Important criteria are compulsory; recommendations are assessed separately. The certification body confirms which criteria apply and how each finding must be addressed.
How certification works
1 Apply: Submit the Preliminary Information Form, describing the company, tobacco supply, curing activities, locations and fuel sources you want assessed.
2 Confirm scope and costs: Confirm the proposed scope, the Agriculture-policy equivalence check, the applicable agreement and fees, and the certification body’s audit quotation before proceeding.
3 Independent audit: Provide access to the relevant sites and evidence. Prepare sourcing and purchase records, fuel-use and barn data, forest-risk information, management procedures and records of implementation.
4 Address findings: Complete the required corrections or corrective-action plan and provide supporting evidence within the applicable deadlines. The certification body will explain the procedure for each finding.
5 Certification decision: The certification body reviews the assessment and decides whether certification can be issued for the defined scope. Any certification wording must identify what the certificate covers.
6 Maintain certification: Continue meeting the applicable criteria, keep supporting records current and complete the required follow-up assessments. Use of the logo remains subject to authorisation and the usage rules.
Certification fees
Confirm the annual logo-use royalties applicable to your proposed scope before proceeding. Audit costs are separate and quoted by the certification body. VAT is additional where applicable. Send details of the activities, locations and supply-chain arrangements to obtain the applicable price list and an audit quotation.
Standards and supporting documents
Check certification status
Use the Friend of the Earth ID to find the certification record. Check the certificate holder, assessed scope, status and validity dates. A company name in the directory does not mean that every activity or product of that company is certified.
Frequently asked questions
The assessment focuses on curing fuel, its origin, consumption records and associated forest-risk controls. Describe your activities when applying so the team can confirm eligibility and scope under the published standard.
Certification covers the activities and supply chain identified in the approved scope. Other activities and products are not automatically covered.
No. Certification concerns the curing-fuel arrangements within the approved scope. Agricultural production and other activities are not automatically certified.
Yes. Its origin and sourcing evidence must be documented and assessed. Purchasing from a supplier does not remove the need for the relevant records.
Explain your sourcing arrangement in the application. The team will confirm the information needed and the applicable route for collecting evidence.
No. Fuel type alone does not establish conformity. The source, supporting documentation and applicable criteria must be assessed.
Prepare the documents relevant to your proposed scope, including fuel and tobacco records, barn information, sourcing evidence, forest-risk plans and management procedures. The team will confirm the full evidence list.
No. This programme concerns curing fuel and associated sourcing practices. It makes no claim that tobacco use is safe.
Only after certification approval and the applicable logo-use authorisation are in place. A certified supplier does not automatically transfer label-use rights to your business.
Check the issue and expiry dates and current status in the certification record. The certification body will confirm the follow-up assessment arrangements for your scope.
Apply for tobacco curing certification
Tell us about the tobacco you grow or purchase, the farmers and curing centres involved, the fuel used to cure it and the countries and activities you want assessed. Our team will confirm the scope and next steps.
The Preliminary Information Form is confidential and does not commit you to proceeding with an audit.
