Reminder – Change to the Auditing and Certification of Subcontractors

In July 2022 Leather Working Group announced that the mini audit would be withdrawn with effect from February 01, 2023. The mini audit was sometimes used for the auditing of subcontractors without providing any certification, unlike the LWG Subcontractor Certification which is valid for 2 years. 

This means that from February 01, 2023 all subcontractors that do not meet the scope of a full category leather manufacturer (see the leather manufacturer audit standard for details of the categories) must be audited and certified against the current version of the subcontractor audit standard. 

A long-standing requirement is that, where a subcontractor meets the criteria of a full category leather manufacturer, they must be audited with the current version of the leather manufacturer audit protocol (LMAP); except where they qualify as a micro enterprise under the EU definition.  

Where a subcontractor meets the criteria of a full category leather manufacturer and qualifies as a micro enterprise under the EU definition, they may be audited using the subcontractor audit protocol (SCAP 1.0).  

EU definition of a micro enterprise: fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover (the amount of money taken in a particular period) or balance sheet (a statement of a company's assets and liabilities) below €2 million. 

For further information, please contact info@leatherworkinggroup.com.