Privacy Policy

Artisanal Foundation (“we,” “our,” or “us”) operates as a standards-setting and certification body administering the Certified Artisanal™ certification program (the “Program”). We do not manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products.

This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and handle information in connection with:

• Your use of the Artisanal Foundation website (the "Site")
• Certification applications and related documentation
• Communications between Artisanal Foundation and applicants, licensees, or other parties

By accessing this Site or submitting information to us, you acknowledge and accept the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of the Site.

Information provided directly by you

When you submit an application, contact us, or otherwise interact with the Program, we may collect:

• Company name, contact name, email address, phone number, and business address
• Business information such as entity type, years of operation, and production details
• Product-specific information including product names, categories, ingredients, and production processes
• Documentation submitted for certification review (e.g., standard operating procedures, batch records, third-party certifications, production photographs)
• Communications, inquiries, and correspondence

Technical and usage data

When you visit the Site, we may automatically collect certain technical information, including:

• IP address and general geographic location
• Browser type, operating system, and device information
• Pages visited, time spent on pages, and navigation paths
• Referring URLs and session identifiers

Application-specific data

As part of the certification evaluation process, applicants may submit or we may generate:

• Uploaded documents such as SOPs, batch records, production logs, and existing certifications
• Certification status, history, and associated Certification IDs
• Audit findings and review notes (maintained internally)

Information collected is used solely in connection with the operation of the Site and the administration of the Program. Specifically, we use information to:

• Evaluate and process certification applications
• Administer, maintain, and enforce the standards of the Program
• Communicate with applicants, licensees, and certified entities regarding their certification status
• Maintain records necessary for compliance, auditing, and program integrity
• Monitor use of the Certification Mark in the marketplace
• Improve the functionality, security, and performance of the Site

We do not use collected information for advertising purposes, behavioral profiling, or data resale.

All materials submitted as part of the certification application process are treated as confidential.

Access to submitted materials is restricted to authorized personnel involved in the evaluation and administration of the Program, including:

• Internal certification staff
• Auditors and review committee members operating under confidentiality obligations

Submitted materials are not disclosed to the public, to competing applicants, or to third parties except as described in this Privacy Policy or as required by law.

Products that receive Certified Artisanal™ certification may be listed in a public registry. The registry may include:

• Product name
• Product category
• Certification ID
• Certification status (active, suspended, or revoked)

No proprietary business information, trade secrets, production documentation, or sensitive operational details are disclosed through the public registry.

We do not sell, rent, or trade personal information or application data to third parties.

Information may be shared on a limited basis with the following parties, solely in connection with the administration of the Program:

• Certification staff and authorized contractors engaged in application review
• Third-party auditors or reviewers conducting assessments under confidentiality agreements
• Legal, regulatory, or governmental authorities where disclosure is required by law, legal process, or governmental request

We do not share information for advertising, marketing, or promotional purposes.

Certification records, application documentation, and related materials may be retained for the duration necessary to administer the Program and fulfill compliance, auditing, and record-keeping obligations.

Retention periods are determined based on:

• The active term of a certification and any applicable renewal periods
• Program standards and audit trail requirements
• Legal and regulatory obligations

Where information is no longer needed for the purposes described above, it will be securely deleted or anonymized in accordance with our internal data management practices.

The Site may use cookies and similar technologies to support basic website functionality and to collect aggregate usage data for analytics purposes.

We do not use cookies for advertising, behavioral targeting, or cross-site tracking. Any analytics tools employed are used solely to understand Site usage patterns and improve performance.

You may configure your browser to refuse cookies or alert you when cookies are being sent. Disabling cookies may affect certain features of the Site.

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.

These measures include access controls, encrypted data transmission, and secure storage practices. However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is entirely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security of information.

You may have certain rights regarding information we hold about you, depending on applicable law. These may include:

• The right to request access to information we maintain about you
• The right to request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• The right to request deletion of your information, subject to legal and program-related retention requirements

Certain data submitted as part of a certification application may need to be retained for compliance, audit, or legal purposes and may not be subject to deletion requests during applicable retention periods.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided below.

The Site may contain links to third-party websites, services, or resources that are not owned or controlled by Artisanal Foundation.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or security of any third-party sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external sites you visit.

Artisanal Foundation reserves the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time. Changes will be reflected by an updated “Last Updated” date at the top of this page.

Continued use of the Site or participation in the Program following any changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.

For questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or the handling of your information, please contact:

Artisanal Foundation

info@artisanalfoundation.com