The document discusses the assessment of the impacts of standard systems, highlighting both positive and negative long-term effects. It emphasizes the importance of transparency and a comprehensive impact code to improve the effectiveness of social and environmental standards, as well as to provide businesses with risk management insights. A public consultation is set to take place in March/April 2010, leading to a stakeholder council approval in June 2010 for compliance by ISEAL members within three years.

1. Assessing Impacts of Standards Systems – Code Development 3 Minute Overview March 2010

2. What is a standard system?

3. What are Impacts Positive or negative long-term effects of the standards system The change we make in the world As impacts are long-term change, it is difficult to prove that what a standards system does, results in impact

4. Why an Impacts Code To learn what is working so we can improve our effectiveness; therefore increase our impact Transparency leads to credibility with external stakeholders To show our contribution to impact To bring together a body of evidence showing the effectiveness of social and environmental standards systems businesses want to understand that they are aligning with winners - so it is a risk management factor to understand the impact of standards systems

5. How will standards systems apply the Impacts Code?

6. Key Impact Issues Environmental Integrity Biodiversity Water Soil Fertility Climate Natural Resource Management Social Development Labour Rights Gender Equity Access to Education Access to Health and Sanitation Cultural Identity Economic Resilience Secure Livelihoods Social Capital Resilience to Economic Risk Inclusive Value Chains

7. What Now? 2 nd formal public consultation in March/April 2010 (60 days) Working with standards systems for training and consultation Code to be approved by Stakeholder Council in June 2010 Once approved, ISEAL members have 3 years in which to come into compliance

8. Questions? Paddy Doherty [email_address] www.isealalliance.org