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The VW audit of SA8000 at one of its plants in China identifies a significant concern many small and medium sized organisations will be pushed to deal with in the future, efficacy of applying the standard and the audits requested.

I fully understand and recognise the need for investors, and therefore large OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, to flow the requirement for such audits throughout their supply chains, coupled with the desire for social justice and fairness around the globe. But this indicates the difficulties ahead for small and medium sized businesses in trying to apply a standard in a political environment they have little leverage with.

Morally and ethically a standard such as SA8000 makes sense, application and auditing for certainty, in an commercial world with constant demands for cost reduction I fear will be more difficult.

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