Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, TCO Development has decided to extend audit due dates by 12 months
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a major impact on audit service providers’ possibility to conduct inspections. TCO Development has monitored the situation over the past 12 months in dialogue with local expert audit providers, brand owners and manufacturers whilst we drive our requirement that independent audits be submitted before set due dates during 2020.
During 2020, the necessary movement restrictions enforced by countries in response to containing the pandemic have impacted the ability to effectively monitor factories and for them to meet compliance deadlines. All workers are entitled to safe and decent working conditions in accordance with TCO Certified criteria and this extends to our responsibility in reducing the risk of auditors and workers being exposed to meet our audit due dates.
Since all brand owners and suppliers have experienced some level of lockdown disruption over the past 12 months, TCO Development extends the due date for each factory presently registered on the TCO Certified Accepted Factory List by 12 months, irrespective of the factory risk category (1, 2 or 3).
If you have any questions, please contact Stephen Fuller, Senior Criteria Manager at TCO Development.