Sedex membership
A paid account per site, a Self-Assessment Questionnaire, links to your customers.
Published supplier prices.Supply chain · social audit
Sedex and SMETA audits
Sedex is a paid membership platform where suppliers answer a questionnaire and share audits with their customers.
SMETA is Sedex’s on-site social audit: two pillars as standard, four when the customer asks, reported as findings rather than a pass or fail.
No UK law requires either; they arrive as a customer’s request.
Two things
What are Sedex and SMETA?
One is the platform you join; the other is the audit you are asked to have.
Sedex says the questionnaire “provides a consistent structure for disclosures; verification comes from recognised third-party audits, most notably SMETA” (Sedex).
Only Sedex members may have a SMETA audit, full or follow-up (Sedex).
A Supplier Plus “certificate” is a membership document, not an audit result.
A customer asks you to “join Sedex”
A SMETA audit
An on-site social audit by an approved audit company, uploaded to Sedex.
Priced by the audit company.The audit
What does a SMETA audit cover?
Labour standards and health and safety always; environment and business ethics in a 4-pillar audit.
Whichever gives workers more protection, local law or the ETI Base Code, becomes the benchmark (SMETA guide p.5).
The output is an audit report with a Corrective Action Plan; Sedex says SMETA is “a continuous improvement methodology rather than a certification” (Sedex).
The current version is SMETA 7, which Sedex dates to September 2024 in its 2026 news and to June 2024 in its 2025 guide.
Four pillarsExplore
Four pillars
Labour Standards
A founding pillar, measured against the ETI Base Code, ILO conventions and local law.
Four pillars
Health & Safety
The second founding pillar; in a 2-pillar audit it carries a basic environment check.
Four pillars
Business Ethics
Added in a 4-pillar audit; Sedex says about 70% of audits are 4-pillar.
One supplier
What does this look like for a three-site supplier?
Three sites on Supplier Plus cost £1,122 a year in Sedex fees, before each audit company’s quote.
It is an illustration, not a real company.
On Standard the same three sites would cost three times £224.
The audit company pays Sedex £199 to use SMETA for each audit; whether it passes that on is its own decision (Sedex).
- 1
Who asked?
A retail customer, for a 4-pillar SMETA at each of three sites.
- 2
Join Sedex
Three sites on Supplier Plus at £374 each, billed annually (Sedex).
- 3
Complete the SAQ
One Self-Assessment Questionnaire per site, tailored to industry, size and country (Sedex).
- 4
Book an audit company
From Sedex’s list of approved audit companies; each quotes its own price (Sedex).
- 5
Plan the next one
A high-risk site yearly; any findings stop counting as robust after 24 months (Sedex).
What it costs
What do Sedex and SMETA cost?
Sedex publishes its supplier fees; the audit price is set by whichever audit company you book.
| Charge | Amount | Who pays | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sedex Standard membership | £224 per site, billed annually | The supplier | Sedex |
| Sedex Supplier Plus membership | £374 per site, billed annually | The supplier | Sedex |
| Buyer membership | A one-off setup and an annual fee scaled by turnover | The buyer | Sedex |
| SMETA platform fee | £199 per SMETA audit, from 1 July 2026 (£250 for a non-SMETA audit) | The audit company | Sedex |
| The SMETA audit | Set by the audit company: size, location, headcount, sites, pillars | Agreed with the audit company | Sedex |
Your year
What will your sites cost, and when is the next audit due?
Enter your sites, plan, last audit and risk level: the annual fee and Sedex’s recommended dates follow.
The fee uses Sedex’s published supplier prices; the audit quote comes from the audit company.
The dates use Sedex’s own guidance; your customer can set a shorter window, and Sedex mentions some buyers accepting reports up to 18 months old (Sedex).
Sedex and SMETA · plan the year
Enter the number of sites.
A 4-pillar audit: Sedex’s illustrative time on site is 3 days; the audit company sets the price, and pays Sedex £199 to use SMETA.
Rules: Sedex supplier membership prices (GBP, billed annually); Sedex Approved Audit Companies, SMETA fees from 1 July 2026; Sedex SMETA guidance summary report, June 2025; The Complete SMETA Audit Guide.
A customer can set its own audit window. Nothing you enter leaves your browser.
Who audits
Who can carry out a SMETA audit?
Only Sedex-approved audit companies, whose lead auditors are APSCA registered or certified.
Sedex says non-approved companies and individuals “are not authorised by Sedex to offer Sedex/SMETA-related services” (Sedex).
This page names no audit company; Sedex keeps the list of approved audit companies.
Who does whatExplore
Who does what
Audit companies
Approved Affiliate Audit Companies, all APSCA members, listed by Sedex.
How long it lasts
How long does a SMETA audit last?
It has no official expiry, but Sedex stops treating findings as robust after 24 months.
Sedex says: “There is no official expiration period” (Sedex).
Semi-announced is now the platform default, and an announced audit needs a logged reason.
A customer’s contract can set its own window, which is the one you have to meet.
- High-risk site
Audit yearly
Sedex’s recommended frequency, from its risk tools. - Medium-risk site
Audit every 2 years
Sedex’s recommended frequency. - Low-risk site
At the buyer’s discretion
The customer decides. - After 24 months
Findings no longer robust
Sedex’s guidance since June 2025; older reports stay visible.
The standard
What does the ETI Base Code require?
Nine clauses, founded on ILO conventions; a SMETA audit measures a site against them and local law.
| Clause | ETI Base Code |
|---|---|
| 1 | Employment is freely chosen |
| 2 | Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining are respected |
| 3 | Working conditions are safe and hygienic |
| 4 | Child labour shall not be used |
| 5 | Living wages are paid |
| 6 | Working hours are not excessive |
| 7 | No discrimination is practised |
| 8 | Regular employment is provided |
| 9 | No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed |
The law
Does the Modern Slavery Act require a SMETA audit?
No. It requires a statement, and the Home Office warns against relying on audits alone.
The guidance names no audit scheme, and says a statement need not guarantee “that the entire supply chain is slavery free” (§5.1).
A supplier below £36 million turnover has no statement duty of its own, but can still be asked for evidence by a customer that does.
The statement duty itself is set out on modern slavery reporting requirements.
The law and auditsExplore
The law and audits
Modern Slavery Act s.54
A statement from organisations with £36 million turnover or more; due diligence is something it “may” cover.
The law and audits
Home Office guidance
Audits can uncover exploitation but can be deceived, and “should not be relied upon alone”.
The law and audits
Your customer
Often asks for SMETA to support its own statement: a commercial request.
Order of work
What should a supplier do first?
Confirm what the customer wants, join for the right sites, then book an approved audit company.
EcoVadis says a recent recognised audit such as SMETA generally keeps a supplier out of its site-verification selection (EcoVadis); the rating itself is on the EcoVadis rating.
The same evidence feeds a customer’s ESG questionnaire and, for climate data, CDP reporting.
- 1
Confirm the request
Which sites, 2 or 4 pillars, and how recent the audit must be.
- 2
Join Sedex for those sites
Standard or Supplier Plus, per site, billed annually.
- 3
Complete the SAQ
Per site, before the audit.
- 4
Book an approved audit company
From Sedex’s list; get quotes.
- 5
Close the corrective actions
Then diarise the next audit by risk level.
Sedex is the account and SMETA is the audit, and neither is a certificate the law asks you to hold.
- £224 or £374 a site
Sedex membership is a published annual fee per site
The audit is priced separately by the audit company. - 2 or 4 pillars
Every SMETA covers labour and health and safety
Four pillars add environment and business ethics. - 24 months
After that, Sedex does not treat findings as robust
There is no official expiry date. - Not a certificate
SMETA gives an audit report and a corrective action plan
There is no pass or fail. - No UK law
The Modern Slavery Act asks for a statement, not an audit
Audits should not be relied on alone.
Frequently asked
What else do people ask about Sedex and SMETA?
What is the difference between Sedex and SMETA?
Sedex is a paid membership platform where suppliers complete a Self-Assessment Questionnaire and share audits with customers.
SMETA is Sedex’s on-site social audit methodology.
A business must be a Sedex member to have a SMETA audit.
How much does Sedex cost?
Sedex publishes two supplier plans: Standard at £224 per site and Supplier Plus at £374 per site, billed annually, with regional taxes possible.
The SMETA audit itself is priced by the audit company.
How much does a SMETA audit cost?
Sedex says the audit company sets the price, which varies with size, location, headcount, sites and whether you need 2 or 4 pillars.
Separately, Sedex charges the audit company £199 per SMETA audit from 1 July 2026; that is not the price of the audit.
What is the difference between a 2-pillar and a 4-pillar SMETA?
Every SMETA covers Labour Standards and Health & Safety.
A 4-pillar audit adds Environment and Business Ethics; Sedex says about 70% of SMETA audits are 4-pillar.
Sedex’s guide gives 2 days and 3 days as illustrative times on site.
How long is a SMETA audit valid?
Sedex says there is no official expiration period.
Since June 2025, though, it no longer treats SMETA findings as a robust picture of current conditions after 24 months, and it recommends yearly audits for high-risk sites and two-yearly for medium-risk.
Your customer may set its own window.
Is SMETA a certification?
No. Sedex says SMETA is a continuous improvement methodology, not a certification and not pass or fail.
The output is an audit report with a Corrective Action Plan.
Does the Modern Slavery Act require a SMETA audit?
No. Section 54 requires a slavery and human trafficking statement from organisations with £36 million turnover or more.
The Home Office guidance treats audits as one tool, warns that they can be deceived, and says they should not be relied upon alone.
What is the current version of SMETA?
SMETA 7.
Sedex’s 2026 news says it launched in September 2024; Sedex’s 2025 audit guide says June 2024.
Sedex consulted on further changes in early 2026 and is piloting them, not issuing a new version.
Sources
Where does each figure come from?
Every figure, date and status on this page traces to the instrument’s owner.
Secondary commentary is never the source for a number.
Checked against 17 sources fromSedexEthical Trading InitiativeHome Officelegislation.gov.ukEcoVadisEcoVadis Help Center
- SedexSupplier membership: plans and prices
Standard £224 and Supplier Plus £374 per site, billed annually; regional taxes may apply.
- SedexSedex Platform
Register, complete the Self-Assessment Questionnaire, link to customers, share audits.
- SedexBecome a member
Buyer plans: a one-off setup and an annual fee scaled by turnover.
- SedexSMETA Audit
The pillars, the methodology, “not a certification”, and who may audit.
- SedexThe Complete SMETA Audit Guide (2025)
Dual compliance with local law and the ETI Base Code; illustrative audit times.
- SedexConsultation on SMETA CARs and Issue Titles (22 April 2026)
SMETA 7 launched in September 2024; changes are being piloted, not issued.
- SedexSedex announces three 2024 product releases
The 2024 release of SMETA 7.
- SedexApproved Audit Companies and SMETA fees
£199 per SMETA audit, charged to the audit company, from 1 July 2026.
- SedexAudit Quality Programme
APSCA membership for audit companies and registration for lead auditors since July 2020.
- SedexExisting Sedex customer: FAQs
“There is no official expiration period”; the audit company sets the price.
- SedexUpdates to SMETA guidance: summary report (June 2025)
Findings not treated as robust after 24 months; risk-based audit frequency.
- Ethical Trading InitiativeETI Base Code
The nine clauses a SMETA audit measures against, with local law.
- Home OfficeTransparency in supply chains: a practical guide, §4.4
Audits can be deceived and “should not be relied upon alone”.
- legislation.gov.ukModern Slavery Act 2015, section 54
Requires a statement; names no audit.
- legislation.gov.ukSI 2015/1833, regulation 2
The £36 million turnover threshold.
- EcoVadisSustainability Rating Methodology disclosure document (V10.0)
EcoVadis’s own site verifications use an SA8000-based protocol.
- EcoVadis Help CenterOn-site verification
A recent SMETA audit generally keeps a supplier out of EcoVadis site-verification selection.
Continue reading
Where to go next
Guide
The EcoVadis rating
The rating a customer may ask for alongside an audit.
Guide
Sedex, in its own words
The software registry’s profile, read from Sedex’s own pages.
Guide
Modern slavery reporting requirements
The statement duty behind many audit requests.
Guide
B Corp certification
A certification, which SMETA is not.