February 06, 2025

SRP Assurance Oversight Manual: Strengthening Assurance and Compliance

The Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) is pleased to introduce the SRP Assurance Oversight Manual Version 1.0, a framework designed to enhance the integrity and credibility of SRP’s assurance processes. It provides clear guidelines to ensure that all assurance activities align with best practices and regulatory requirements, fostering transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Who is this manual for?

This document is essential for:

• Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs): Organizations conducting audits under the SRP Assurance Scheme.
• Auditors and Oversight Auditors: Professionals responsible for compliance evaluations.
• Verified Units (VUs): Farms and organizations seeking SRP verification.
• SRP Secretariat: The governing body managing and overseeing assurance processes.

Why is this important?

The manual strengthens the SRP Assurance system by:

• Enhancing the quality and credibility of SRP verification.
• Focusing on improvement rather than punishment, helping CABs and Verified Units refine their processes.
• Aligning SRP’s assurance system with global best practices.

What does the manual cover?

The Assurance Oversight Program (AOP) defines structured processes to:

• Identify potential risks and non-compliance within the SRP Assurance Scheme.

• Strengthen quality control and assurance measures.

• Take corrective actions and enforce compliance where necessary.

Key Oversight Activities

To ensure high-quality assurance, SRP monitors the performance of CABs through three key mechanisms:

• Quality Management System (QMS) Monitoring: Ongoing evaluation of CABs via the SRP Audit Management Platform, data updates, and Verified Unit feedback.

• Witness Audit: Independent experts observe CAB audits in real-time to assess accuracy and reliability.

• Compliance Audit: Independent experts review past CAB audits to verify that they meet SRP’s required standards.

By implementing these oversight measures, SRP reinforces trust in its assurance system, ensuring credibility and continuous alignment with best practices.

For more details, download the SRP Oversight Manual Version 1.0.