The Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) Validated Assessment Program (VAP) is the leading standard for social compliance verification in the global electronics supply chain. RBA itself does not conduct assessments but sets the standards and authorizes independent third-party firms specially trained in the VAP protocol to perform these audits.
How the RBA Audit System Works
The RBA audit system operates through a network of approved third-party assessment firms that:
- Conduct thorough onsite assessments lasting 2-5 days
- Review documentation, interview management and employees, and perform visual site surveys
- Use local, native-speaking assessors trained to identify violations including forced labor
- Rate findings by severity (Priority, Major, or Minor)
- Develop corrective action plans (CAPs) for remediation
Audit Scope
RBA audits comprehensively evaluate:
- Labor Rights: Working hours, wages, freedom of association, non-discrimination
- Health & Safety: Workplace safety, emergency preparedness, industrial hygiene
- Environmental Protection: Environmental permits, pollution prevention, resource conservation
- Business Ethics: Anti-corruption, information disclosure, intellectual property protection
- Supply Chain Management: Supplier responsibility, risk assessment, continuous improvement
RBA audit 2025 Authorized Audit Firms
As of 2025, RBA has expanded its network to 16 authorized third-party audit firms operating in over 40 countries. These firms employ hundreds of trained auditors to ensure consistent application of VAP standards globally.
Current Authorized Firms (Alphabetical Order):
- ALGI
- ARCHE Advisors
- BSI
- Bureau Veritas
- DNV
- DQS-CFS
- Eurofins
- Greenment
- IDFL
- Intertek
- LRQA
- Q-Inspect
- SGS
- TÜV Rheinland
- TÜV SÜD
- UL
Note: The list of RBA-approved audit firms is subject to change. For the most current information, please visit the official RBA VAP page.
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