OUR GLOBAL SEAL OF PURITY

Certifications That Hold Up to Audit

Independently verified. Continuously audited. Built into how we operate.

When you source from across the world, you need more than great taste — you need confidence in the safety of what you're selling, trust in the consistency of its quality, and assurance that your partner operates with integrity. At Samley, certifications aren't badges painted on a website. They're the visible proof of how we operate, every day, under independent audit.

Samley Teas quality certifications and compliance
OUR GLOBAL SEAL OF PURITY
Ceylon Tea Lion Logo Ceylon Tea
FDA FDA
FSSC 22000 FSSC 22000
USDA Organic USDA Organic
SMETA Sedex SMETA
EU Certified EU Certified
Fairtrade Fairtrade

Six independent standards. Six third-party audit cycles. Six layers of accountability built into how Samley sources, blends, packs, and ships every batch.

WHY CERTIFICATIONS MATTER

More Than Badges. The Architecture of Trust.

At Samley, certifications are not decorative. They're the documented evidence of how rigorous systems, regular external audits, and real accountability are wired into daily operations — from the moment leaves arrive at our facility to the moment a sealed container leaves Colombo for your destination market. Here's how that protection reaches you:

Product Safety

Every batch meets global food safety standards — verified through systems audit, not just final-product inspection.

Consistent Quality

Reliable processes and repeatable specifications — the tea you approve today is the tea you receive across multiple production cycles.

Ethical Operations

Verified care for people and responsible sourcing — from estate workers to your supply chain compliance team.

Certifications shape how we handle raw materials, manage production, train teams, and prepare shipments for global markets — giving partners the confidence that comes from working with a serious, export-ready manufacturer rather than a hopeful trader.

FOOD SAFETY & EXPORT READINESS

Two Standards That Define How We Operate

When you import a product, safety has to come first. It's not enough for a supplier to claim they care about quality — you need to know they have working systems that manage risk at every stage. Two internationally recognized standards anchor our operation: FSSC 22000 for food safety management, and FDA registration for US market readiness.

FSSC 22000 — Our Food Safety Management System

FSSC 22000 is one of the most rigorous global benchmarks for food safety management. Critically, it doesn't just check the final product — it audits the entire operational system behind every batch. That distinction matters: a supplier can pass a finished-product test while having dangerous gaps in their process. FSSC 22000 closes those gaps by examining the system itself.

What this looks like at our facility

  • Strict hygiene, cleaning, and cross-contamination control protocols
  • Traceability system tracking ingredients back through our supply chain
  • Ongoing food safety training so every team member knows their role
  • Documented checks and records at every key production stage
  • Regular internal audits AND third-party external audits to verify compliance

It significantly reduces risk in your supply chain. FSSC 22000 confirms food safety is built into our operations from the moment raw leaves arrive to when finished tea is packed and shipped — proof that we're a process-driven partner, not a hopeful one.

FDA Registration — Built for the US Market

If you're sourcing for the US market, you need a supplier who understands how the system actually works. FDA registration is the foundational layer — it confirms our facility is listed in the FDA database, that we file Prior Notice for US-bound shipments, and that we're familiar with the basic compliance expectations US Customs enforces.

  • Facility appears in the FDA database — searchable by US partners
  • FDA Prior Notice references our registration number on every shipment
  • Shipments clear Customs without registration-related holds
  • Registration confirmation included in every shipment package
  • Biennial renewal maintained under FSMA requirements

For US partners, sourcing feels more like working with a domestic supplier than navigating international compliance from scratch.

ORGANIC CERTIFICATION

Organic Certification: EU & USDA

For brands and retailers that sell into organic-certified channels, certification is not optional — it's the entry requirement.

Organic products run on trust. When a label says 'organic,' buyers and consumers expect real standards behind it — not just good intentions. In global trade, that trust is built through documented certification systems that allow brands to make organic claims with full legal standing in the markets where they sell.

EU Organic and USDA Organic certifications verify that products marketed as organic meet strict rules on how tea is grown, handled, and processed. In practice: organic materials stay clearly separated from conventional products, traceability records are maintained throughout the supply chain, and inspections are conducted on regular cycles. Documentation flows from estate to factory to finished pack — nothing is taken on faith.

For our partners, this matters because organic is a compliance-based promise — not a marketing claim. EU and USDA Organic certifications allow certified product lines to be sold into the natural channel, organic-focused retailers, and brands where documentation and verification are not optional. Ours support multi-market organic programs without forcing buyers to navigate dual certification scopes. Explore our private label organic programs and bulk organic teas.

At Samley, our EU and USDA Organic certifications cover certified product lines across black, green, and herbal categories — supported by segregated processing protocols, full chain-of-custody documentation, and the ongoing audits that distinguish a real organic program from a labeled one.

SOCIAL COMPLIANCE & RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS

Beyond the Product: How We Operate

Sedex & SMETA — Our Social Responsibility Framework

Today's buyers don't just evaluate the product — they evaluate the conditions behind it. Sedex (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange) and the SMETA audit framework provide a structured, internationally recognized way to demonstrate that ethical practices are operationalized, not just promised. In practice, this covers fair working conditions, health and safety standards, and responsible day-to-day operations — reviewed and verified through audits major retailers and global brands accept as part of supplier approval.

Many retail chains and international brands now require social compliance audits as part of their vendor onboarding. SMETA gives our partners a recognized format to satisfy those requirements without parallel custom audits.

Fairtrade — Available for Programs That Require It

Fairtrade represents conducting business in a fair, transparent, and responsible manner across the supply chain — a well-recognized certification confirming that care extends beyond the final product to the people and operations behind it. For programs that require Fairtrade certification — particularly retailers in the natural channel and ethical-trade-focused brands — we support production aligned with Fairtrade requirements with full audit documentation.

Sustainability & Climate Responsibility

Certifications describe how we operate today. Sustainability commitments describe where we're going. We believe the most responsible businesses are those committed to longer journeys — measuring environmental footprints honestly, making real improvements over time, and reporting progress publicly rather than just announcing intent.

At Samley, we've committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 — alongside the broader global movement of companies treating climate responsibility as operational, not aspirational. The commitment includes ongoing emissions measurement, defined reduction actions, and accountability cycles to track progress as we move toward our 2040 target.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOUR BUSINESS

How These Standards Protect Your Business

So what does this stack of certifications and systems actually mean for your business? Connecting the dots: think of it as your layer of protection and operational peace of mind. Each certification translates into a specific business benefit — not abstract trust, but verifiable risk reduction, market access, and supplier-approval simplification.

FSSC 22000 directly reduces risk in your supply chain by ensuring product safety and consistency are systemic, not incidental. EU and USDA Organic unlock retail channels where certified status is the entry requirement. SMETA simplifies your own vendor approval process by satisfying the social compliance audits major retailers and brands already accept.

Together, these aren't certificates on a wall. They're the architectural proof that Samley is built to deliver consistent, compliant, export-ready products you can rely on — not for one shipment, but for years of repeat partnership and program scaling. Explore our full wholesale programs to see how these standards apply to your specific product category.

If you have specific compliance needs or questions about which certifications apply to your products and destination markets, our compliance team is here to guide you through the documentation. Let's make sure your sourcing is as smooth and audit-ready as it should be.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Detailed answers to common queries from compliance teams and procurement managers.

Can I get copies of your current certificate documents for my compliance team's records?

Yes. Current copies of all our certifications — FSSC 22000, FDA registration, EU Organic, SMETA, and Lion Logo — are provided as part of every initial supplier qualification package and updated automatically when renewed. We can also share specific certificates on request prior to engagement, supporting your team's pre-qualification due diligence.

How often are these certifications audited and renewed?

Each certification operates on its own audit cycle: FSSC 22000 includes annual external audits with multi-year recertification, FDA registration is biennially renewed under FSMA, EU Organic and USDA Organic require annual inspection, and SMETA audits typically occur every 1–3 years depending on retailer scheme. We maintain a calendar of all audit cycles and provide updated documentation immediately upon renewal.

What happens if my retail buyer requires a certification you don't currently hold?

We can support most retailer-specific schemes through facility audits or program-specific certifications. Common requests include Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, BRCGS, and IFS — several of which we already hold or can pursue based on volume commitment. Share your buyer's requirements at quotation stage and we'll confirm timeline and feasibility upfront, before commitments are made.

How does your traceability system support recall preparedness?

Every batch we produce carries a unique lot code that traces back to source estate, raw tea grade, processing date, and finished-product release date. In a recall scenario, this lets you identify affected batches by lot code within hours — not days — and provides the documentation chain audit teams require. Recall mock drills are part of our FSSC 22000 system.

Do you provide chain-of-custody documentation for organic and certified products?

Yes. Every certified shipment includes complete chain-of-custody documentation: source estate records, processing logs, organic input verifications, segregation protocols at our facility, and finished-product certification carryover for private label or branded retail. This documentation is sufficient for retailer compliance audits, organic certifier verifications, and any internal supply chain disclosure requirements your buyers may impose.

Ready to Source from a Compliant Partner?

Whether you're qualifying a new supplier, expanding into certified-organic categories, or scaling an existing program — share your compliance requirements with our team. We'll respond within 1–2 business days with relevant certificate copies, audit summaries, and documentation samples tailored to your destination market.