Standards Map
The reference database of voluntary sustainability standards: which certifications matter in your market and what they require.
Overview
In food, textiles and many consumer goods, the real barrier to a market is often not the tariff but the certification buyers expect. Standards Map is the free reference database that helps you find and compare those voluntary sustainability standards.
It covers more than 300 standards, codes of conduct and audit protocols across sectors and markets. You can search for the standards that operate in your sector and destination, then compare what each one requires across environmental, social, quality and ethical dimensions, with self-assessment features to gauge how ready you are.
The practical value is focus. Certification costs real money and time, and certifying for the wrong scheme can waste a season. Standards Map lets you see the landscape before you spend, so the certification you pursue is the one your target buyers actually reward.
New to the terminology? Every technical term is explained in our trade glossary, including HS code and rules of origin.
What data you'll find
Applicable standards
Which voluntary standards operate in your sector and target market, so you can see the field before choosing.
Requirement comparisons
Side-by-side requirements across standards, covering environmental, social, quality and ethical criteria.
Self-assessment
Tools to gauge how close your operation already is to a standard's requirements before you commit to certification.
How to find which certifications your target market expects
Goal: Find which certifications your target market expects for your product.
- 01
Enter your product and sector
Start by describing what you make and the sector it sits in, since standards are organised by sector.
- 02
Select your target market
Add the destination market so the tool can surface the standards that carry weight with buyers there.
- 03
Review the applicable standards
Read the list of standards operating in your sector and market, and shortlist the ones your buyers are likely to ask for.
- 04
Compare requirements
Use the comparison view to see what each shortlisted standard demands across environmental, social, quality and ethical criteria.
- 05
Run a self-assessment
Gauge how ready you already are against your leading candidate, so you can plan the gap before you pay for an audit.
Strengths
- Nothing else free comes close for coverage of voluntary standards.
- Direct comparison across standards on the criteria that matter.
- Self-assessment helps you plan certification before spending on it.
Limitations
- It covers voluntary standards only. Mandatory technical regulations live in MacMap and the Global Trade Helpdesk.
- Requirement detail varies by standard, so always confirm against the standard owner.
- Certification cost and time are not covered, so budget those separately.
Frequently asked questions
Certification is a cost. Market Selection helps you spend it once.
Standards differ by market, so certifying for the wrong one can burn a whole season and a real budget.
Rank your markets first with Market Selection, then invest in exactly the certifications your top market rewards, in the right order, rather than guessing.
Related guides
Global Trade Helpdesk
The one-stop shop from ITC, UNCTAD and the WTO: market stats, tariffs and procedures for one product-market pair on a single page.
Market Access Map (MacMap)
Look up the tariff any country charges on your product: MFN and preferential rates, quotas, trade remedies and regulatory requirements.
JTrade Help is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the International Trade Centre. Tool names belong to their owners. Guides are based on public documentation and hands-on use; always check the official site for current features.