In February 2026, the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) launched a public consultation on targeted updates to the assurance processes defined in our General Certification Requirements, and our Principles & Criteria (P&C) Monitoring and Certification Requirements.
This was a partial revision, following the relevant processes to target impacted stakeholders. The consultation was open from 11 to 25 February 2026.
After the public consultation and consideration of feedback, the assurance documents are now available on our website:
The revised requirements will become effective from 1 April 2026.
To learn more about the feedback received and how it has been incorporated into the final versions of the GCR and the P&C MAC, please check out this report.
What has been revised?
This update focused on changes relating to:
- Aligning with corporate due diligence legislation
- Confirming P&C audit teams’ social auditing competency and interview guidance
- Better defining and improving the credibility of various processes
- Improving consistency and clarity
This revision process was overseen by the Internal Steering Committee, which includes key staff from across the Better Cotton Initiative and provides technical input.
What is Better Cotton Initiative assurance?
Assurance at the Better Cotton Initiative includes both third-party certification and first and second-party monitoring of producers and supply chain companies. These processes are defined across three documents:
- The General Certification Requirements are the overarching requirements for certification for both Chain of Custody and Principles and Criteria.
- The Principles & Criteria (P&C) Monitoring and Certification Requirements define the additional requirements for certification and other monitoring activities specific to P&C assurance for producers
- The Chain of Custody (CoC) Monitoring and Certification Requirements define the additional requirements for certification and other monitoring activities specific to CoC assurance for supply chains, retailers and brands
We would like to thank all stakeholders for their time and participation. If you have any questions about the consultation, you can reach us at [email protected].