UEBT identifies practices that respect human and biodiversity in the way that biodiversity components are grown, gathered, researched, processed and commercialized. UEBT standards are used to independently check whether these practices are being applied systematically.

Ethical bio-trade standards

The UEBT standard is formally referred to as the Ethical BioTrade Standard and it encompasses seven principles covering important social, environmental and economic issues. Companies and other organizations use the Ethical Biommerce Standard to promote good practices in their operations and along their supply chains – right down to wild crop or harvest sites.

• The UEBT Standard is based on the BioTrade Principles and Criteria developed by UNCTAD BioTrade Initiative.
• It was revised in 2020 after a comprehensive consultation with multiple corporate stakeholders, the community and civil society.
• There will be a 12-month transition (July 2020 to July 2021) to the new standard for UEBT members, and we look forward to making the transition as smooth as possible.

What’s new in the 2020 standard?

• Better defined practices and detailed guidance on biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, with an emphasis on enhancing biodiversity regeneration.
• A more results-based approach that emphasizes monitoring of actions taken, assessment of results, and implementation of improvements.
• Further guidance on costing so that wild farmers and collectors get a fairer price.
• Better compliance with legal and policy developments related to access and benefit-sharing (ABS) and the Nagoya Protocol.
• Further consistent with the Guiding Principles of the United Nations on Business and Human Rights and International Labor Organization conventions.
• Approach to continuous improvement (step by step), with some actions that may be prioritized in future phases.

UEBT welcomes any suggestions, input or clarifications for the UEBT standard.