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When a customer asks a supplier to "join Sedex", many suppliers assume it is a certification. In fact, Sedex is an online platform where businesses manage and share information on labour standards, health and safety, environment and business ethics with their customers. Sedex does not issue certificates.
1. What Is Sedex and What Does It Stand For?
Sedex stands for Supplier Ethical Data Exchange. It runs a membership platform where:
Suppliers create company and site profiles, complete a self-assessment, and upload documents and audit reports.
Buyers view data from linked suppliers, assess risk and track improvements.
The main benefit: suppliers maintain one profile shared with many customers, and one SMETA report can be used by several buyers, reducing duplicate audits.
2. Sedex vs SMETA
| Sedex | SMETA | |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Organisation and data-sharing platform | Social audit methodology developed by Sedex |
| Output | Profile, SAQ and data on the platform | On-site audit report |
| Who does it | The business updates its own data | Sedex-approved audit companies |
"Sedex audit" usually means a SMETA audit. For SMETA 2-Pillar, 4-Pillar, SMETA 7 and the audit process, see: What is SMETA?
3. Is Sedex a Certification?
No. Joining Sedex or having a SMETA report is not a certification; there is no "Sedex certificate". The output is data and reports shared on the platform. If a customer needs a social accountability certificate, a common standard is SA8000.
4. Why Do Buyers Ask Suppliers to Join Sedex?
To meet supply chain due diligence laws and expectations from investors and consumers.
To get consistent, comparable supplier data.
To reduce duplicate audits and conflicting questionnaires.
To use SAQ risk scores to decide which suppliers need a SMETA audit.
5. Sedex Membership Types
| Type | For |
|---|---|
| Buyer | Businesses with suppliers that need supply chain visibility, e.g. brands and retailers |
| Supplier | Businesses that produce or provide goods or services to customers |
Businesses that both sell to customers and have their own suppliers may need both. Membership fees are set by Sedex by type and package; check the Sedex website or ask Sedex when registering.
6. How to Join Sedex
Confirm your customer's requirements: membership type, SAQ, whether SMETA is needed, deadlines.
Register an account on the Sedex platform and choose the right membership.
Pay the membership fee as instructed by Sedex.
Create your company profile and each production site.
Link with customers: send or accept connection requests so customers can see your data.
Complete the SAQ for each site.
Maintain: keep the SAQ, documents and audit reports up to date.
7. What Is the Sedex SAQ?
The SAQ (Self-Assessment Questionnaire) covers business practices, management systems, policies and workers at a site. The platform automatically generates a risk score from the answers, helping buyers prioritise suppliers.
According to Sedex:
The SAQ for goods providers has a maximum of 158 questions; sites with fewer than 10 workers have a maximum of 52.
Multi-site companies can answer most questions centrally.
The SAQ is available in Vietnamese.
Sedex recommends updating the SAQ every six months.
Tips for completing the SAQ
Answer accurately; big differences between the SAQ and reality may surface during a SMETA audit.
Prepare data in advance: workers by gender, migrant workers, agency workers, working hours, wages.
Keep evidence for the policies and procedures you declare.
Update the SAQ after major changes: sites, headcount, production processes.
8. How TTS Cert Can Help
Guidance on joining Sedex, setting up company and site profiles and linking with customers.
Support to complete the SAQ and prepare supporting documents.
Gap analysis and preparation for SMETA audits when customers require them.
TTS Cert is a consultancy, not a SMETA audit company. See also: What is SMETA? A Sedex SMETA guide
9. Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sedex stand for? Supplier Ethical Data Exchange.
Is there a Sedex certificate? No. Sedex is a data-sharing platform; SMETA is an audit report, not a certification.
Does joining Sedex always require a SMETA audit? Not always. The customer decides whether a SMETA audit is needed, based on risk scores, product category and its own policy.
How often should the SAQ be updated? Sedex recommends every six months, and after major changes at the site.
After completing the SAQ, prepare for the audit: SMETA Audit Checklist.
References
Sedex – Join Sedex
Sedex – What is Sedex and why buyers ask you to join
Sedex – Changes to the Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) for goods providers
Lawyer Tran Thi Mai has more than 10 years of experience in legal affairs, social responsibility, ESG and sustainable development.
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