Stakeholder Comment Period Announced for Veriflora® Sustainably Grown Standard

SCS Global Services announced today that its hallmark certification standard for cut flowers and potted plants, Veriflora® Sustainably Grown, has been updated, and that the 60-day stakeholder comment period is now underway. All interested stakeholders are invited to submit comments.

The Veriflora® Sustainably Grown certification program first became operational in 2003. This precedent-setting standard successfully set a new bar of performance for cut flower and ornamental horticultural producers seeking sustainability recognition. For instance, its stringent criteria included the first bans on pesticides deemed extremely or highly hazardous by the World Health Organization, integrated waste management requirements, extensive farm labor and farm community protection provisions, and product quality provisions.

“Stakeholder feedback is a vital step in the standards development process,” said Lesley Sykes, SCS’ Manager of Sustainable Agriculture. “We provide a transparent forum for receiving and addressing comments in a way that improves the standards we write.”

According to Sykes, key changes in the new Draft Version 4.0 include: improved usability for self-assessment by users; improved auditability; updates in definitions and references; clarification of scope; and Modification of Tier-2 requirements to focus on new recognition opportunities for best practices. Additionally, SCS has updated the Annex for Veriflora® Responsible Horticultural Peat Moss Production.

Stakeholders interested in commenting on the Draft Version 4.0 of the Veriflora® Sustainably Grown Standard or the Draft Version 3.0 of the Veriflora® Responsible Horticultural Peat Moss Production Annex can find relevant documents posted at https://www.scsglobalservices.com/stakeholder-review-of-scs-standards.

About SCS Global Services — SCS has been a global leader in third-party quality, environmental and sustainability verification, certification, auditing, testing, and standards development for more than three decades. Its programs span a cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in energy, manufacturing, green building, food and agriculture, forestry, and more. SCS is a chartered benefit corporation, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices, and a 2016 recipient of the Acterra Business Environmental Award for Sustainability.