Responsible Reptile Sourcing Standard (RRSS)
The RRSS was initiated by IMARC and developed in collaboration with a multidisciplinary consortium of specialist organizations and experts. Representatives included government agencies, social, environmental, and animal welfare NGOs, agricultural specialists,
conservation scientists and commercial stakeholders, including representatives from producer states.
The RRSS Journey
The RRSS was developed through a rigorous and consultative process to ensure it is credible, practical, and aligned with international best practice. Building on the initial framework, the standard was refined through field testing and several rounds of consultation involving brands, tanneries, traders, hunters, farmers, NGOs, scientists, veterinarians, and government representatives.
The development process was aligned with ISO 17065 and ISEAL principles for transparent, inclusive, and consensus-based standard setting. A multi-stakeholder Stakeholder Committee ensured broad industry and community perspectives were incorporated throughout the process, while a Technical Advisory Committee provided expert guidance on animal welfare, environmental management, traceability, and assurance requirements.
Three rounds of public and stakeholder review enabled feedback to be systematically considered and integrated into successive drafts. The standard was also pilot tested across the supply chain, with findings used to strengthen both the requirements and assurance framework. An experienced scheme developer was appointed to oversee the standard development process and an independent certification body, accredited to ISO/IEC 17065 with scopes covering similar principles, was selected to deliver third-party certification.
Following consultation, review, and pilot testing, the RRSS was finalised in 2025 and rolled out in 2026, providing an independently verified framework for responsible sourcing that reflects best practice in animal welfare, responsible business conduct, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship.
Four Principles
Responsible Business
Processing facilities and farms conduct business in a transparent manner that complies with applicable laws, with respect to human rights and wildlife conservation, and build trust and credibility among workers, communities, and other stakeholders
Animal Welfare
Processing facilities and farms conduct business in a way that ensures high standards of animal welfare during capture, transport, captive breeding, and processing with reference to the Five Domains Model for animal welfare.
Social Responsibility
Processing facilities and farms engage with workers, stakeholders, and rights holders to maintain or enhance the health, safety, cultural values, quality of life and livelihoods of workers and affected communities
Environmental Responsibility
Processing facilities and farms engage with stakeholders to ensure that trade is planned and carried out in a manner that maintains biodiversity and ecological integrity, avoids, or minimizes negative environmental impacts and identifies and enhances positive environmental contributions.