Amazon

Supply Chain Standards

Manual

This Supply Chain Standards Manual (“Manual”) provides guidance

for all suppliers of goods and services for Amazon and Amazon’s sub-
sidiaries, including providers, vendors, selling partners, contractors,
and subcontractors (“Suppliers”), to ensure that their practices meet
and exceed the expectations in Amazon’s Supply Chain Standards.
This document is intended to be a supplemental resource to build Supplier
knowledge. It does not modify or supersede any of the requirements spec-
ified in Amazon’s Supply Chain Standards. Suppliers are expected to com-
ply with the Supply Chain Standards and applicable laws and regulations.
Updated June 2024
Amazon Supply Chain Standards Manual 2

Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................ 3
What are Amazon’s Supply Chain Standards?.............................................................................................3
Who needs to comply with Amazon’s Supply Chain Standards? Are there any exceptions?...3
Audit Requirements and Legal / Regulatory Expectations................................ 4
Audit Requirements...............................................................................................................................................4
Audit Preparation Tips..........................................................................................................................................4
Accepted Audits.......................................................................................................... 4
Industry Association Audits................................................................................................................................4
Amazon Managed Audits.....................................................................................................................................5
Building, Electrical, Fire, and Structural Safety Program (BEFS)..........................................................5
Prevention................................................................................................................... 5
Gap Analysis..............................................................................................................................................................5
Policies and Internal Controls............................................................................................................................5
Policies and Controls Examples.........................................................................................................................6
Remediation................................................................................................................ 6
Key Steps of the Remediation Process...........................................................................................................6
Corrective Action Plans.........................................................................................................................................7
When does Amazon consider terminating a relationship with a Supplier?.....................................7
Supply Chain Management...................................................................................... 8
Supplier Relationships...........................................................................................................................................8
Grievance Mechanisms.........................................................................................................................................8
Transparency............................................................................................................................................................ 8
Environment................................................................................................................ 8
Supplier Diversity....................................................................................................... 9
Appendices.................................................................................................................. 9
Appendix 1: Glossary of Terms..........................................................................................................................9
Appendix 2: Frequently Asked Questions..................................................................................................10
Appendix 3: Country-Specific Sourcing Requirements.........................................................................10
Appendix 4: Industry and Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives.......................................................................11
amforiBSCI........................................................................................................................................................................................................11
Better Work......................................................................................................................................................................................................11
Fair Trade USA................................................................................................................................................................................................12
Responsible Business Alliance..................................................................................................................................................................12
Sedex..................................................................................................................................................................................................................12
Social and Labor Convergence Program (SLCP)................................................................................................................................13
Social Accountability International SA8000.......................................................................................................................................13
WCA....................................................................................................................................................................................................................13

Appendix 5: Sample Audit Agenda...............................................................................................................14

Appendix 6: Sample Audit Documents Checklist....................................................................................14
Appendix 8: Corrective Action Plan Tips.....................................................................................................15
Amazon Supply Chain Standards Manual 3

Introduction
What are Amazon’s Supply Chain Standards?
Amazon’s Supply Chain Standards (“the
Standards”) are foundational to how we embed
respect for human rights throughout our business
activities and relationships.

Our commitment and approach are informed by

leading international standards and frameworks
developed by the United Nations (UN) and the
International Labour Organization (ILO). Amazon
is committed to respecting and supporting the
UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human
Rights, the UN Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, the Core Conventions of the ILO, and the
ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and
Rights at Work. These Standards are derived from
the above internationally recognized principles,
standards, and frameworks. When interpreting
these Standards, we follow UN and ILO guidance
materials and definitions.

The Standards are grounded in principles of inclusivity, continuous improvement, and supply chain account-
ability. We engage with Suppliers that are committed to these same principles and Suppliers commit to these
standards as a condition of doing business with us. We update these standards at least every three years,
working with external stakeholders to align requirements with current best practices and regulatory standards.
A commitment to these Standards is included in all purchase or service agreements with Amazon.

Find the full text of the Standards online; the Standards are available in more than 20 languages.

Who needs to comply with Amazon’s Supply Chain Standards? Are there any exceptions?
Any third party producing a product sold in our stores, or providing a product or service to Amazon, must
comply with these standards.

Suppliers must follow all applicable laws and regulations and must support Amazon to do the same, including
by complying with any requests from Amazon related to compliance with laws and regulations. When
applicable law conflicts with these Standards, Suppliers must follow the law while finding ways to respect the
principles of internationally recognized human rights and the expectations contained in the Standards.
Amazon Supply Chain Standards Manual 4

Audit Requirements and Amazon operates on a policy of continuous improve-

ment. Although we reserve the right to terminate
Legal / Regulatory a relationship at any time for failure to meet our
Standards, in most cases, termination will occur when
Expectations a supplier refuses to cooperate with an assessment,
refuses to change behaviors or practices, or does not
Amazon may audit Suppliers during onboarding make meaningful progress on remediation.
and periodically thereafter to understand social and
environmental performance. Assessments cover four Audit Preparation Tips
categories: Labor, Health and Safety, Environment, • Understand: We expect suppliers to review and
and Ethics. Audits are a tool to help suppliers identify understand our Standards. Audits are designed
and address issues related to Amazon’s Standards. to identify existing and potential issues and
Suppliers may also be required to meet additional make improvements. We expect Suppliers to be
legal and regulatory requirements. For example, if open and transparent during audits.
required by law, Suppliers must engage in human
• Prepare: Suppliers should evaluate their facil-
rights and environmental due diligence to identify,
ities and operations to identify gaps between
prioritize, and address their most salient risks.
current working conditions and Amazon’s Stan-
Audit Requirements dards.
• Get help: Suppliers can use external resourc-
If requested, Suppliers must submit an Amazon-ap-
es, complete a self-assessment, or engage an
proved audit of their facilities before providing
industry initiative.
Amazon with products, labor, or other services.
Suppliers can 1) submit an audit from an approved
industry association, or 2) complete an Amazon Accepted Audits
Managed Audit.
Industry Association Audits
We partner with a variety of industry associations; Industry Association Audits are third-party social
these organizations help Suppliers minimize audit compliance initiatives and multi-stakeholder
duplication, and redeploy resources to address issues programs; they are accepted widely by brands across
and continuously improve. many industries.
What to expect during an audit: Amazon currently accepts audits from the following
• Site inspection of all areas of the site and any Industry Associations:
employer-provided living quarters.
• amfori BSCI
• Confidential worker interviews or surveys con-
ducted without site management present. • Better Work (BW)
• Review and analysis of site documents or licens- • Fair Trade USA
es to assess workers’ age, contracts, compensa- • Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) (Amazon
tion, working hours, and workplace conditions. only accepts RBA VAP audits, we do not accept
• Identification of past compliance issues and RBA SVAP audits)
areas for improvement. • Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit (SMETA)
• Development of a corrective action plan. • SA8000 Standard
• Review of remediation measures. • Social and Labor Convergence Program (SLCP)
Suppliers are expected to be transparent and provide • Workplace Conditions Assessment (WCA)
auditors with prompt access to facilities, records, When Amazon has requested an audit, Amazon will
and workers, including temporary and contingent not accept facility certifications, seals of compliance,
workers. If an audit uncovers issues, Amazon may self-assessments, partial reports, or ratings in place
conduct announced or unannounced on-site verifi- of the full audit of the facility.
cation or request additional documentation to track
remediation efforts. If suppliers submit an audit conducted by an
approved industry association, we retain the right
Depending on the issues found, Suppliers may be to determine whether an audit demonstrates that a
assessed multiple times a year, including follow-up facility meets our Standards.
assessments to address specific findings. Upon
completion of an assessment, Suppliers must We will review the audit report and inform the
promptly provide a detailed remediation plan for Supplier if the results meet our standards. If not,
each identified issue.
Amazon Supply Chain Standards Manual 5

Suppliers will need to submit a follow-up audit Amazon reaches out to Suppliers for BEFS assess-
demonstrating that any findings have been resolved. ments, Suppliers are required to cooperate with a
nominated third party to schedule the assessment.
For more information about industry association Like a traditional audit, Suppliers are also required
audits, including how to order an audit, contact to cooperate and be transparent with the third party
[email protected]. on the day of the assessment. Once the assessment
is complete, Amazon will issue a corrective action
Amazon Managed Audits plan, and Suppliers are required to submit regular
Amazon Managed Audits are performed by progress updates on their remediation.
authorized third-party audit firms on Amazon’s
behalf. Amazon works closely with experienced and
qualified auditors to utilize industry and region-spe-
Prevention
cific knowledge to evaluate working conditions. Reading and understanding our Standards is one
of the most important steps Suppliers can take to
Before an audit is conducted, Amazon may notify
mitigate risks in their operations. Risk management
Suppliers of the upcoming audit. Amazon reserves
is key to preventing issues and protecting right-
the right to conduct audits that are announced,
sholders.
semi-announced, or unannounced with or without
prior notification. Tip
Suppliers must grant auditors access to: Purchasing and production practices, such as sales,
capacity planning, and raw material purchasing
• All buildings under business license, including may impact workers. Amazon’s suppliers should
but not limited to production facilities, ware- consider the following when engaging with their
houses, management offices, employer-provid- own suppliers:
ed dormitories, and canteens.
• Applicable documents, such as employment-re- • Costing, payment terms, and production
lated records (including those for contracted or timelines can impact your supplier’s ability to
temporary workers). pay legally-required wages and avoid excessive
overtime; these practices can also prevent the
• Workers and site management for interviews. use of undisclosed subcontractors;
Amazon audits can take a full working day or more, • Any changes to purchase orders should be made
depending on the size of the facility. Facility personnel with sufficient notice for production managers
and labor agency representatives involved in the to plan accordingly without causing excessive
audit are expected to be available during the audit. overtime;
Upon completion, the auditor will share a Findings • Communication with your Suppliers and should
Summary with the Supplier, identifying any issues be frequent and timely, to allow for adjustments
that need to be corrected immediately. Following and to support a sustainable business relation-
the audit, Amazon will send a request to complete a ship.
Corrective Action Plan, if required.
Gap Analysis
Building, Electrical, Fire, and Structural
To better understand how a facility’s practices adhere
Safety Program (BEFS)
to Amazon’s Standards, Suppliers should conduct
Amazon’s Building Electrical, Fire, and Structural a gap analysis. After reading Amazon’s Standards,
Safety (BEFS) program is an issue-specific assessment Suppliers should gather information and data about
to identify and remediate structural, electrical, and the current state of their facilities and operations,
fire safety issues. This assessment goes beyond the including relevant performance indicators. Analyzing
coverage of a traditional social compliance audit this data against Amazon’s requirements will help to
to dive deep on safety issues covered in Amazon’s identify discrepancies between the current state and
Supply Chain Standards, and to identify areas of the desired level of compliance. Suppliers can then
improvement for factories in scope. prioritize identified gaps based on their risk level and
create action plans to reduce and eliminate gaps.
BEFS assessments are a mandatory requirement for
all new sites located in Bangladesh. BEFS assess- Policies and Internal Controls
ments are also required for sites in Pakistan and
Suppliers should establish policies and internal
Cambodia, on an annual basis. This scope is subject
controls to support their conformity with Amazon’s
to change.
Standards. Written policies and control procedures
BEFS assessments are initiated by Amazon. When are foundational to ensuring consistent risk
Amazon Supply Chain Standards Manual 6

prevention and continuous improvement. This commit the Supplier to providing all workers with
section provides examples of policies and controls. It complete and accurate terms and conditions of
is not an exhaustive list. employment, and establish that the Supplier will pay
all recruitment fees and, if any workers have paid
Policies and Controls Examples fees, reimburse them for those costs.
Document Retention: A policy which prohibits all
Forced Labor Prevention: A policy that prohibits
forms of retention of workers’ personal documents,
any form of bonded, indentured, prison, or forced
in line with international standards, local laws
labor, including slavery, child labor, and human
and regulations, whichever is stricter. This policy
trafficking. Suppliers can control for forced labor
should apply to all workers, and should include a
issues by establishing procedures and accountabil-
commitment to carry out due diligence of relevant
ity for effectively screening and contracting with
business partners to monitor compliance with the
ethical third-party staffing and recruitment agencies,
policy.
providers of living quarters, or other contractors.
Ethical Behavior: A set of policies that foster and
Non-Discrimination: A policy that clearly defines
enforce ethical behavior, including a gift and hos-
discrimination and states that discriminatory
pitality policy for determining whether or not a gift
practices are unacceptable. This policy should
is appropriate, a whistleblower policy (including
state that workers must not be discriminated
a policy against retaliation), and human resource
against during hiring, employment, or termination
policies that drive ethical behavior, such as screening
procedures. The policy should also declare that
management applicants with background checks.
workers will not be punished or retaliated against for
Wages and Benefits: A policy in line with local labor reporting discriminatory actions or behaviors.
laws that applies to all workers (direct, dispatch,
For more information about these and other policies,
migrant, contract, temporary, piece-rate, and other
contact [email protected].
categories, as appropriate). Where such laws do not
exist, Suppliers are encouraged to maintain policies
that provide workers benefits, such as paid leave. Remediation
Health and Safety: Controls to prevent injurious Key Steps of the Remediation Process
or fatal hazards include, but are not limited to,
assigning specific individuals with defined respon- When audits, grievance mechanisms, media reports,
sibilities for ensuring facilities have adequate fire or other sources identify issues, the remediation
prevention and extinguishing equipment in place, process will vary based on the nature and scope
and that it is regularly inspected, tested, and of the issues. Common to all remediation plans
maintained. Suppliers should provide workers with are the needs to act fast, remove harm, act in the
training to prevent, mitigate, and respond to health best interests of workers, and commit to preventing
and safety risks, including conducting emergency similar issues in the future.
response drills.
During the remediation process, suppliers are
Working Hours: Suppliers should control working required to:
hours by assigning individuals with defined respon-
1. Act fast
sibility and accountability for comprehensive
production and/or staffing planning, and ensuring In certain situations, Amazon will pause new
that contributing factors are controlled. For example, production, purchase, or staffing orders and notify
establishing a mechanism for overtime approval Suppliers that they are required to take immediate
that requires senior management sign-off for hours action. Suppliers are responsible for remediating the
in excess of company limits. violation(s) within the timeline requested by Amazon.

Fair Treatment: A policy that commits the 2. Identify the issue

Supplier to promoting fair treatment and respect of
Based on the issues identified, Amazon will provide
employees. This policy should state that violence or
Suppliers with remediation guidance regarding
any other forms of harassment, abuse, or coercion
our Supply Chain Standards. This includes steps to
will not be tolerated. The policy should guarantee
correct the non-compliance.
employees access to confidential complaint and
investigation procedures, and commit the Supplier 3. Prioritize remediation from workers’ per-
to taking thorough action to rectify any reported
spectives
incidents.
During investigations, Amazon prioritizes feedback
Responsible Recruitment: This policy should from workers, and we will work directly with
Amazon Supply Chain Standards Manual 7

Suppliers to examine the issues, jointly investigate based in key sourcing countries.
the root cause, and jointly develop a corrective
action plan (CAP). We recognize that some issues may take time
to effectively remediate. With severe issues, we
4. Devise an appropriate and complete re- expect Suppliers to show that they are making
sponse meaningful progress towards remediation within
a defined timeline, based on the issue. During this
We will work with Suppliers to ensure the steps of time, we reserve the right to conduct announced or
the remediation plan are consistently met, and will unannounced on-site verification audits, or request
conduct periodic checks to ensure progress is made. additional documentation to track remediation
We expect Suppliers’ remediation plans to include efforts.
management system-based investments to prevent
recurrence of the issue. We offer on-site and remote training to support
continuous improvement. Suppliers are also
Amazon’s core remediation principle: Workers encouraged to participate in external training
should be at the center of any remediation effort. programs, such as industry association tutorials, to
We put the safety and interests of affected workers learn how to recognize and prevent forced labor,
first. how to comply with wage and working hour require-
ments, and how to implement management systems.
Corrective Action Plans
A Corrective Action Plan (CAP) is a tool to help Involve workers in the CAP process
Suppliers understand issues uncovered during an • Seek workers’ perspectives to identify root caus-
audit, and establish a plan to address those issues. es of issues, and potential solutions.
A CAP can help Suppliers continuously improve
• Include worker feedback in the CAP, to help
management systems and downstream supply
identify sustainable changes and prevent issues
chains.
from reoccurring.
After Amazon receives and analyzes audit results, When does Amazon consider terminating a
we provide a summary of issues identified in the relationship with a Supplier?
audit. Suppliers are expected to review the results,
and develop a CAP that details immediate actions Amazon reserves the right to investigate supply
to address high-risk issues, and a long-term plan to chain issues at any point. Recurring violations of our
prevent issues from reoccurring. Failure to implement Standards will suggest that suppliers are not making
the actions listed in the CAP may prevent the Supplier sustainable improvements.
from continuing production or providing services or
labor to Amazon. Amazon will make every effort to work with
Suppliers to remediate an issue, instead of terminat-
A CAP includes: ing the contracting relationship, in order to improve
conditions for workers. To support Suppliers and
• An explanation of the root cause of the issue(s) their workers, Amazon will contribute expert support
that lead to non-compliance. and resources as needed.
• Any immediate corrective action(s) to take.
During remediation, Amazon may:
• Long-term preventative action(s) to help pre-
vent similar issues from occurring in the future. • Suspend new production, purchasing, or sourc-
• Responsible individuals who will be assigned ing during the investigation and until the Suppli-
corrective actions to take and who will be ac- er has agreed to the remediation plan.
countable for progress. • Provisionally resume production, purchasing, or
• A required completion date for immediate and sourcing during remediation so long as action
long-term actions. plan milestones are met.

• Suppliers must complete and return the CAP to • Suspend production, purchasing, or sourcing
[email protected] within 20 business during any delays in meeting milestones.
days of receiving the Final CAP report. • Disengage with the facility if the Supplier re-
fuses to remediate or fails to make meaningful
We track remediation closely and conduct follow-up progress.
assessments as needed. Between assessments, our
team directly engages with Suppliers to discuss Termination will be considered when:
open issues and remediation progress. To support
• Suppliers refuse to cooperate with an investiga-
our supply chain, we have dedicated teams that
tion or engage in remediation.
work directly with Suppliers and service providers
Amazon Supply Chain Standards Manual 8

• Suppliers do not make progress on a remedia- including getting help with setting up a mechanism,
tion plan. contact [email protected].
• Suppliers refuse to change behaviors or practices.
If you have concerns about complying with Amazon’s
Standards, please email [email protected].

Supply Chain
Management
We recognize supply chains are complex and difficult
to monitor. We ask Suppliers to regularly monitor
their own supply chain to identify and address risks.

Supplier Relationships
We expect our Suppliers to disclose all relationships,
including the use of subcontractors or labor agents,
in advance of production or providing services or
labor to Amazon.

Suppliers must disclose relationships within their

own supply chains where production or related
processes are assigned to a party that is different
from the entity with which Amazon has contracted.
Suppliers must confirm that any sub-tier Suppliers or
subcontractors providing direct or indirect products,
services, or labor for Amazon also comply with our
Standards.

We reserve the right to audit facilities involved in the

production of Amazon products, including facilities
that produce component parts or raw materials,
or that contribute to the production process (such
as off-site ironing, laundry, embroidery, assembly,
conveyor belts, IT equipment, etc.). Amazon
personnel, or auditors that conduct assessments on
behalf of Amazon, may request to review relevant
documentation to verify a Supplier’s system for
ensuring compliance among next-tier Suppliers and
subcontractors.

Grievance Mechanisms
Grievance mechanisms are processes that allow
various parties (workers, community members,
customers), or their proxies (civil society organi-
zations, trade union representatives, etc.), to raise
complaints and seek resolution for any negative
impacts they have suffered as a result of business
activities. These can be as simple as a hotline or
an email address. Or, they can be as complex as a
web-based tool, a community center that receives
inquiries, or a third-party service. The mechanism
should be built in a way that allows various parties
to file their grievances and have them processed in a
way that is accessible, transparent, predictable, and
that leads to remedy of well-founded claims.

For questions regarding grievance mechanisms,

Amazon Supply Chain Standards Manual 9

Transparency to reduce carbon emissions, waste, and water over

time. While this may look different across Amazon’s
Amazon expects Suppliers to be honest and straight-
broad supplier base, suppliers can work with their
forward in how they conduct their business and treat
Amazon business partner to understand how they
their workers.
can help us meet The Climate Pledge commitment,
We do not work with Suppliers that are not honest which includes the following:
with us. We understand that Suppliers may face • Comply with all regulatory requirements
challenges meeting certain requirements or industry related to environmental performance and
association standards; our ultimate goal is to help greenhouse gas emissions.
committed Suppliers improve their workplaces and
better protect their workers, even if it takes time. • Set a credible target. Join The Climate Pledge
We can support Suppliers in developing a mutual- and commit to reach net zero carbon by 2040,
ly-agreed plan of action to maintain compliance or set a comparable greenhouse gas emissions
with our standards over time. reduction target relevant to their business with
Amazon. Amazon encourages targets that cover
Our transparency standards require Suppliers to all scopes of emissions, align with net zero by
provide accurate documentation about facility 2040 or better, and demonstrate time bound
working conditions. See Appendix 7 for examples. commitments to reduce carbon emissions.
• Take action. Improve the environmental
During an audit, Suppliers will need to grant auditors performance of your operations. Pursue real
access to: business changes to reduce carbon emissions
• All buildings under business license, including and demonstrate performance against these
but not limited to management offices, employ- targets. Initiatives could include improving ener-
ment records, production facilities, warehouses, gy efficiency, purchasing carbon free electricity,
dormitories, canteens, and living quarters. reducing transportation emissions through low
carbon fuels or fleet electrification, reducing
• Applicable documents (including those for con- material use, or other real business changes
tracted or temporary workers) to reduce carbon emissions. Suppliers should
• Workers and site management for interviews. take action to also reduce waste and water
across their operations and encourage the same
Failure to allow auditors full access can result in a
throughout their supply chain.
failed audit. If there are areas that cannot be viewed
or records for some groups of workers that cannot • Share progress. Suppliers should share emis-
be provided due to conditions such as non-disclo- sions data and performance progress public-
sure agreements, Suppliers must inform Amazon ly through industry-accepted platforms, on
prior to an audit. company websites, or directly with Amazon.
This includes reporting on all relevant scopes in
Transparency requirements: alignment with acceptable criteria under Green-
• Do not engage in illegal, deceitful, or unethical house Gas Protocol (GHGP), or other acceptable
behavior (for example: bribery) criteria defined by Amazon to promote trans-
parency and accountability.
• Provide accurate documentation about working
conditions Upon written request by Amazon, suppliers are
• Disclose relationships, including labor or recruit- required to set a credible greenhouse gas target,
ment agencies and share progress by providing emissions data to
demonstrate compliance with Amazon’s Supply
• Give auditors access to all buildings, applicable Chain Standards. Amazon business partners will
documents, workers, and site management define requirements and contact Suppliers, if
requested, on the type of data, timespan, and how
Environment to provide information to Amazon.

Amazon is committed to The Climate Pledge, a

commitment to reach net-zero carbon by 2040, Supplier Diversity
and are requiring our suppliers to join us to reach
Advancing Supplier diversity and inclusion (SDI)
this goal. We prioritize working with suppliers that
is important to Amazon because it’s good for our
are making real business changes to improve the
business, aligns with our customers’ expectations,
environmental performance of their operations and
and is the right thing to do for society as a whole.
supply chains. Moving beyond legal and compliance
Amazon’s Supplier diversity program is guided by
obligations, suppliers should be setting goals, taking
our ambition to extend procurement opportunities
action, and demonstrating sustainability progress
Amazon Supply Chain Standards Manual 10

to diverse businesses, with the goal of driving supply the issue from reoccurring. Remediation must be
chain innovation and offering customers a broader demonstrated through an approved verification
range of products and services. method determined by Amazon.

We encourage Suppliers to look at their own supply Semi-announced audits: The audit notification
chains and enact policies and measures to foster will be sent to the facility and relevant parties. The
diversity, equity, and inclusion. auditor will contact the facility to confirm the contact
information and agree on a one or two-week window
Appendices in which the audit will take place. The auditor will not
provide an exact date on which the audit will take
place.
Appendix 1: Glossary of Subcontractor(s): An individual or a business that
Terms signs a contract to perform part or all of the obliga-
tions of another’s contract.
Amazon Managed Audit: An audit of Supplier
facilities conducted by a third-party audit firm on Supplier(s): An entity that produces, manufacturers,
behalf of Amazon. assembles, or provides goods, services or labor to
Amazon.
Announced audits: The audit notification will be
sent to the facility and relevant parties, and the Supply Chain Standards: Amazon’s Supply Chain
auditor contacts the facility to confirm the contact Standards (“Standards”), include requirements and
information of the facility and the date on which the expectations for Suppliers in Amazon’s supply chain
audit will take place. and Suppliers supporting Amazon’s operations.

Audit findings: An issue discovered at the facility Unannounced audits: The facility will not receive
of an Amazon Supplier, service provider, or subcon- advance notice. The auditor may contact the facility
tractor. Audit findings can be identified through to provide notice that an audit will be conducted in
any formal or informal assessment mechanism (for the future, but not provide a specific date.
example: site visit, audit, survey).
Worker: The primary rights holder in a facility,
Corrective Action Plan (CAP): A summary of issues employed on a full-time, part-time, temporary, or
identified in an audit that need to be corrected. contractual basis by a Supplier or service provider.
Suppliers must review the CAP and implement steps
to address immediate issues, as well as develop a
long-term plan to prevent issues from reoccurring.
Appendix 2: Frequently
Facility: Any location where Amazon branded
Asked Questions
products or products designed to Amazon specifi- How do I know if I need to pass an audit be-
cations are sourced or produced (including but not fore working with Amazon?
limited to the following activities: process, finish,
assemble, distribute, or deliver). Amazon will contact you if you need to pass an
audit. We expect all of our Suppliers, and their
Industry Association Audit: An audit conducted by own Suppliers and subcontractors, to comply with
an approved third-party social compliance organiza- Amazon’s Supply Chain Standards.
tion or multi-stakeholder initiative.
If I have submitted an Industry Association
Law(s): Any applicable laws, regulations, or rules Audit, does that mean I am compliant with
that apply to a Supplier or facility. This includes local Amazon’s standards?
and national laws, national regulations and rules,
and treaties. Submitting an Industry Association Audit does not
mean that the audited site meets Amazon’s social
Qualification Requirements: The minimum level of responsibility standards. Amazon will review the
compliance with Amazon’s Supply Chain Standards report to determine compliance. Your Amazon
that Suppliers and facilities must meet to qualify as Business Partner will let you know if the results
an Amazon Supplier. of your Industry Association Audit do not meet
Amazon’s standards, in which case, you will be asked
Remediation: A demonstration that a violation to go through a new Industry Association Audit or an
of Amazon’s Supply Chain Standards has been Amazon-Managed Audit to ensure the findings have
corrected and actions have been taken to prevent been resolved.
Amazon Supply Chain Standards Manual 11

If my industry association audit is approved, • Equatorial Guinea

do I have to go through an Amazon Managed • Eritrea
Audit as well?
• Ethiopia1
Amazon will accept some Industry Association • Gabon
Audits if they meet our requirements, instead of
conducting an Amazon Managed Audit. However, • Guinea
Amazon maintains the right to conduct assessments • Guinea-Bissau
at any time. • Haiti1
How long will the audit process take? • Iraq
The length of the audit depends on the size of the • Lebanon
facility that is being assessed and number of workers • Liberia
interviewed. Audits will take at a minimum one full • Libya
working day.
• Madagascar
Where can I get more information? • Mali
Contact your Amazon business partner if you have • Mauritania
questions about recent or upcoming audits. • Mozambique
Who pays for an IAA/AMA? • Myanmar
Suppliers are expected to pay for all industry associate • Niger
audits (IAAs), including SLCP initial and maintenance • Nigeria
audits. The only exception is for SLCP verification • Pakistan
audits, for which Amazon will pay. Amazon will also
pay for Amazon-managed audits. • Somalia
• South Sudan
Appendix 3: • Tajikistan
• Togo
Country-Specific • Turkmenistan
Sourcing Requirements • Zimbabwe
Amazon has additional sourcing requirements for • Uzbekistan
the following countries. Suppliers located in these • Venezuela
countries should contact their Amazon business • Yemen
partner for more information.
• Afghanistan Appendix 4: Industry and
• Algeria
• Angola
Multi-Stakeholder
• Bangladesh1 Initiatives
• Burundi To help Suppliers meet and exceed our standards,
• Cameroon we recommend the following resources, programs,
and tools provided by industry associations and
• Central African Republic
multi-stakeholder initiatives. The information below
• Cambodia1 may change.
• Chad
• Comoros amforiBSCI
• Congo amfori is a business association for open and sus-
• Djibouti tainable trade, bringing together over 2,300 retailers,
importers, brands, and associations from more than
• DR Congo
40 countries.
• Egypt
• Main website: amfori.org
• Supplier portal: amfori.org/en/solutions/tools/
1 Better Work and BEFs participation required for eligible facilities.
Amazon Supply Chain Standards Manual 12

amfori-sustainability-platform Fair Trade USA

• e-Learning portal: amfori.org/en/solutions/ Fair Trade USA is a nonprofit organization and
tools/amfori-academy leading certifier of fair-trade products in North
America. Fair Trade offers different standards to
Recommended training
address the various parts of businesses’ supply
The amfori Academy offers a wide range of training, chain. The standards Amazon accepts are Agricul-
such as workshops and e-learning. We recommend ture Production Standard (APS) 1.2.0 and Factory
the following: Production Standard (FPS) 2.0.0. Fair Trade USA and
partnering Conformity Assessment Bodies audit and
• Getting Started with amfori BSCI
certify supply chains to help ensure that farmers
• Introduction to Social Management Systems and workers are paid fair prices and wages, work in
• Occupational Health and Safety safe conditions, protect the environment, and earn
community development funds to improve their
• Drafting a Remediation Plan
lives. FT certification cycle is 3-years and operates
• Fair Remuneration and Decent Working Hours on a continuous improvement model.
Risk assessment tools
How to order an audit
• amfori BSCI platform: Provides an overview of
• If you’d like to get your product Fair Trade certi-
supply chains to reduce duplication of efforts,
fied, reach out to Fair Trade USA by completing
save money, and help identify improvements.
the online form: https://www.fairtradecertified.
• Auditing Integrity Program: A comprehensive org/get-started/
and independent acceptance process for audit
companies to engage with amfori BSCI activities. Cost to suppliers
• Country Due Diligence tool: Helps members • Suppliers are responsible for all audit costs
understand their supply chain and manage any • The cost of certification for Fair Trade depends
potential risks. on the product and whether a supplier or brand
is certifying one product or an entire supply
Better Work chain
All eligible Suppliers in Bangladesh, Cambodia, • See Fair Trade USA Minimum Price and Premium
Ethiopia, and Haiti must enroll in the Better Work Search as a general guide
Program. We also encourage all Suppliers located
in countries where Better Work operates to enroll How to share the audit results
(Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Haiti, Indonesia, Email [email protected] with your:
Jordan, Nicaragua, and Vietnam)
• Latest full assessment report (conducted within
• Main website: betterwork.org 12 months)
• Supplier portal: portal.betterwork.org • Corrective action plan (if required by Fair Trade)
• e-Learning portal: betterwork.org/training/ • Valid certification
Recommended training Amazon – approved audit firms
Better Work offers training courses in areas such Amazon will accept Fair Trade audits conducted by
as communication, negotiation and supervisory any Fair Trade accredited certification body
skills, industrial relations, occupational safety and
health and harassment prevention. Training focuses Validity timeline
on helping participants solve real world issues in a
practical way. Fair Trade certifications must be valid. Provide your
last full audit conducted within 12 months to verify
Factory Service Package compliance

Better Work offers the Factory Service Package in Additional resources

Bangladesh, Cambodia, Haiti, Jordan, Indonesia,
Nicaragua and Vietnam. For further details on Fair Trade Standards see here:
https://www.fairtradecertified.org/get-certified/
Factories enrolled in Better Work go through a standards/
learning process, including assessments, advisory
services, industry seminars, and training. Additional help
See ‘Contact us’ option on the Fair Trade USA website:
https://www.fairtradecertified.org/contact-us/
Amazon Supply Chain Standards Manual 13

Responsible Business Alliance Risk assessment tools

RBA, formerly the Electronic Industry Citizenship • SMETA Audit: Audit methodology designed to
Coalition, is a nonprofit comprised of electronics, help auditors conduct high quality audits.
retail, auto, and toy retailers and Suppliers that • Sedex Advance: One of the largest collaborative
collaborate to improve working and environmental ethical data platforms for buyers, Suppliers, and
conditions. auditors.
• Main website: responsiblebusiness.org • Suppliers who join Sedex can also access mem-
bers-only tools
• Supplier portal: rba-online.org
• e-Learning portal: academy.responsiblebusiness. Social and Labor Convergence
org Program (SLCP)
Recommended training SLCP is a multi-stakeholder initiative established to
RBA members can utilize a range of RBA training tackle the issue of audit fatigue in supply chains, with
and assessment tools. We recommend the following an inital focus on the apparel and footwear sectors.
to start: SLCP’s Converged Assessment Framework (CAF)
is designed to replace all proprietary social audit
• RBA Code of Conduct programs with one single assessment to collect and
• Assessments and Remediation 1: Factory As- verify social and labor data.
sessments • Supplier portal: slconvergence.org
• Assessments and Remediation 2: Transparency • Supplier guidance: slconvergence.org/tool
and Ethics
• Assessments and Remediation 3: Corrective Sharing audit results:
Action Plans • Send the report link from SLCP Gateway to
[email protected]
Risk assessment tools
• Training events: RBA hosts global outreach Social Accountability International
events and in-person trainings, and members SA8000
can subscribe to the events bulletin.
Social Accountability International (SAI) is a global
• Responsible Factory Initiative: Provides a uni-
non-governmental organization advancing human
fying architecture for RBA factory-level tools
rights at work. SAI is the owner of the SA8000
and programs for companies looking to assess
Standard and updates it regularly to respond to new
and develop their supply chain at all levels of
and emerging social and human rights issues. While
maturity.
SAI provides guidance on the Standard’s imple-
Sedex mentation and determines the program’s auditing
methodology, all SA8000 audits are carried out by
Amazon only accepts Sedex audits conducted by certification bodies (i.e. qualified auditing firms)
full APSCA member firms. Find an up-to-date list of that receive accreditation from SAI’s independently
approved firms online. managed division, Social Accountability Accredita-
tion Services (SAAS).
Sedex is a global membership organization that
provides tools, services, guidance, and training to • Website: sa-intl.org
help suppliers map and manage risks in their supply
• Supplier guidance: sa-intl.org/resources/
chain. Sedex has over 55,000 members in over 180
sa8000-getting-started/
countries, across 35 industry sectors.
• Cost information: sa-intl.org/resources/
• Main website: sedex.com sa8000-certification-costs/
• Supplier portal: sedex.com/become-a-member/
Sharing audit results:
supplier-membership/
• Email [email protected] with your:
• e-Learning portal: sedex.com/training/
• Stage 2 audit
Recommended training • Most recent Surveillance Audit (occur every 6
• Introduction to SMETA months)
• Training for buyers • Valid certification (valid for 3 years)
• Training for suppliers
• Training for auditors
Amazon Supply Chain Standards Manual 14

WCA Appendix 5: Sample

Workplace Conditions Assessment (WCA) program
was developed by Intertek, a leading total quality Audit Agenda
assurance provider to industries worldwide. WCA
This sample audit agenda is for reference only. The
provides an industry-agnostic, risk-based solution
duration of each audit phase may vary by facility.
for companies and suppliers seeking to improve
workplace conditions efficiently and in accordance 1. Opening meeting: Discuss the audit process and
with widely accepted industry standards and best review the Expectations for Supplier and Auditor
practices. Through this assessment solution, Intertek Conduct document. - 30 min
provides on-the-ground support and expertise to
2. Facility walk-through: Tour of facility (all produc-
help companies manage Supply Chain Due Diligence
tion areas, warehouses, canteens, dormitories).
specific to social and labor conditions, health &
Auditors take photos during this tour. - 1-2
safety, environment, and business practices. The
hours
program offers a community-based sharing model
that promotes mutual recognition acceptance to 3. Management and worker interviews: Confiden-
reduce audit duplication. tial interviews with workers, including direct and
indirect workers (typically 10-25, or at auditor’s
How to order an audit discretion). 2-4 hours
Go to Intertek’s Global Supply Chain Compliance 4. Document review: Prior to audit you will receive
portal and login or select ‘Request an Audit’ under a list of records and/or documents from the
the login option if you don’t have a login. auditor for review during this time. - 2-3 hours
5. Closing meeting: Auditors will meet with facility
Cost to suppliers management to review preliminary findings and
• Suppliers are responsible for all audit costs discuss next steps. - 30 min
• WCA audit cost depends on the number of em-
ployees at the facility and location Appendix 6: Sample
• WCA does not require brands or suppliers to
become members or pay a membership fee to Audit Documents
participate in the program Checklist
How to share the audit results
This list is intended to assist suppliers to assemble
Email [email protected] with your: records and documents required for an audit. The
confidentiality of all proprietary information will
• Full assessment report (occurred in the last 12
be respected. Original documents should be made
months)
available during the audit for all workers, including
• Corrective action plan (if required by WCA) contract and temporary workers. This list is not
exhaustive, and auditors may request additional
Amazon – approved audit firms
documents.
All audit reports should be completed by Intertek, as
an APSCA member audit firm. Business documents
• Business/industry license, registration, permit,
Validity timeline and/or certificate
Audit validity will depend on the audit results and • Government inspection reports/permits (such as,
varies from 12 to 24 months. sanitation, fire safety, structural safety, environ-
mental compliance)
Additional resources
• Summary list of registration and inspection
For trainings, webinars and other resources provided certificate of special equipment (for example:
by Intertek, see here: https://www.intertek.com/ crane, elevator, generator, boiler, pressure vessel,
resources/ forklift), and the operator’s certificate

Additional help • Other documents (if applicable) related to ven-

dor/subcontractor contracts (such as canteen,
See Intertek’s help option: https://www.intertek. security, facilities)
com/assurance/wca/
Facility Policies and Procedures
• Facility rules/employee handbook
• Polices regarding hiring/recruitment, child labor,
Amazon Supply Chain Standards Manual 15

wages and working hours, disciplinary, benefits • Records of occupational injury and illness
and allowances, discrimination and harassment, • Records of industrial hygiene monitoring (such
grievance, freedom of association, health and as chemical exposure, air contaminants, noise,
safety, environmental, and training temperature, lighting, indoor air quality)
Employee Documentation • Employee medical examination records (if appli-
• Employee personnel files (such as employment cable)
application, labor contracts, disciplinary notices, • Records of drinking water analysis/testing
copies of identification documents, work per-
• Cafeteria license and food service personnel
mits, resignation records)
health records (if applicable)
• Worker registration and health check records (if
applicable) Environmental
• Proof of age for apprentice/intern/student • Environmental impact assessment and project
workers (if applicable) completion acceptance report and approval
• Annual monitoring and reporting records (if
Payroll & Attendance Documents applicable)
• Payroll records, and time records (regular and
• Air emission permit and monitoring records
overtime) including government waiver/over-
time permit, piece rate records for the past 12 • Wastewater discharge permit and monitoring
months (including peak period, low period, and records
the most recent period) • Records of hazardous waste disposal and in-
• Piece rate records and production records (such spection
as daily production report, product inspection • Pollution control board’s approval/consent
report)
• List of legal holidays Appendix 7: Corrective
• Earned leave and casual leave records for the
last two years Action Plan Tips
• Records of social insurance contribution Knowing and understanding the root cause of a
• Records of employee benefits (for example: non-compliance issue will help you identify the best
annual leave, maternity leave) corrective actions to address immediate issues, and
prevent them from reoccurring. When you review
Freedom of Association audit results and create a CAP, ask yourself the
• Legal organization agreement or other docu- following:
ments (such as meeting records)
• Knowledge: Did the problem occur due to lack
• Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) of awareness or knowledge?
• Facility layout or evacuation plan • Assignment: Did the problem occur because
• EHS manual and/or written EHS programs responsibility was not clearly assigned?
• EHS Committee records (agendas, minutes) • Tools: Did the problem occur because of appro-
• EHS training records (such as personal protec- priate tools are not available?
tive equipment, chemical safety) • Training: Did the problem occur due to lack of
proper training?
Health & Safety
• Accountability: Did the problem occur because
• Workplace safety and equipment related per-
of a lack of accountability?
mits/licenses/testing reports
• Resources: Did the problem occur due to insuf-
• Equipment inspection/service logs
ficient resources such as budget or space?
• List of chemicals used and hazardous processes
• Safety data sheets (SDS)
• List of required personal protective equipment
• Testing, inspection, and maintenance records for
fire suppression equipment
• Fire drill records, fire inspection reports
• Emergency action procedures (such as an Emer-
gency Response Plan)