What happens if the verifier finds out that a new 4C Unit has red practices during 4C verification?
Given the continuous improvement approach, at the entry level and after they have excluded the 10 Unacceptable Practices, 4C Units are only required to reach average-yellow performance per dimension, to receive their 4C Licence. Average-yellow per dimension means that within one dimension there may still be some red practices, as long there are an equal number of green ones to balance them out. If red practices outnumber green practices, the 4C Secretariat will not issue a 4C Licence to the 4C Unit and the Unit will not be able to sell its coffee as 4C Compliant. If green practices outnumber red practices, a 4C Unit will receive a 4C License. A re-verification after three years will check the continuous improvement and achievements of the 4C Unit.
