2026 IRC Annual Governance Update

Dear IRC Members,

In order to use our in-person meetings for deeper exchange, the IRC Secretariat is moving the governance portion of our annual meetings to this virtual update.

You can now take part in the 2026 IRC governance update by reading this page and taking the short online survey (via the link below) by 10 July. It should take you about 5-10 minutes.

There are three agenda items to read:

  1. Proposed change to the IRC collaboration agreement - for approval

  2. 2025 IRC Activity Report - for acknowledgement

  3. Consultative Committee for 2026 - for acknowledgement

Please read through all agenda items, and then take the survey.

1. Proposed change to IRC collaboration agreement

In our September 2025 in-person meeting in Fortaleza, Brazil, IRC members discussed and put forward a proposed change to the commitments that IRC members make when joining, as outlined in the IRC Collaboration Agreement and its addenda.

  • The proposed change is that commitments made by local companies and distributors to purchase independently verified or certified Carnauba should be based on market demand (instead of specific targets).​

  • Commitments made by brands would remain unchanged.​

  • This proposal was sent to the IRC Consultative Committee who approved on 15 January 2026.

  • The next step is for IRC members to formally approve this change so the documents can be amended.

More details:

--> See the current, unchanged commitment text in the following documents (clicking on the links below takes you to the IRC intranet | password is Carnauba2023

 IRC Collaboration Agreement (approved in 2020) - article 12 on page 2 of this document has the current, unchanged text on distributor commitments.

Addendum to collaboration agreement: Commitments of local companies (approved July 2024) - article 8 on page 2 of this document has the current, unchanged text on local company commitments.

The changes proposed by the committee and members are tracked below:

Local companies:

§8. Additionally, Brazilian Carnauba manufacturers members of the IRC shall:

a. Conduct internal audits of its Carnauba suppliers for compliance with TAC requirements and with the minimum and critical requirements in the UEBT standard or equivalent standard requirements, according to the following timetable:

  • In 2025, conduct internal audits on at least 75% of its Carnauba wax volumes
  • In 2026 onwards, conduct internal audits on 100% of its Carnauba wax volumes

b. Undergo annual third-party verification that confirms implementation of TAC commitments.

c. According to market demand for independently verified or certified Carnauba, purchase responsible Carnauba that has been independently verified or certified in compliance with the minimum and critical requirements in the UEBT standard or equivalent standard requirements. according to the following timetable: in 2024 onwards, purchase at least 50% externally verified or certified Carnauba wax.

d. Set measurable targets and adopt concrete roadmaps to advance its commitment under Articles 7 and 8 to purchase independently verified or certified responsible Carnauba.

Distributors:

§12. According to market demand for independently verified or certified Carnauba, distributors of Carnauba shall source verified or certified Carnauba, subject to availability under competitive conditions. according to the following timetable:

a. Within two years of membership, to source at least 25% verified or certified Carnauba.
b. Within four years of membership, to source at least 50% verified or certified Carnauba.


—> You can confirm the proposed changes to the IRC Collaboration Agreement by taking the survey here.

—> Please also read the next two agenda items to complete the full survey.

2. IRC Activity report for 2025

We ask all IRC members to please review and acknowledge that they have seen the 2025 Activity Report. You can view or download it here.

—> Please acknowledge your receipt of the report via the same survey here.

3. IRC Consultative committee

As part of IRC governance, a consultative committee consisting of three IRC members to support the IRC Secretariat where guidance may be required.

The committee consists of a representative of each of the following types of IRC members: local wax processing companies, distributors, final product manufacturers or brands. The committee serves for one year.

We are pleased to inform you that the following organisations have agreed to serve on the IRC Consultative Committee for 2026: Agrocera, Gehring-Montgomery, Inc., and L’Oréal.

—> Please acknowledge the new Consultative Committee for 2026 via the same survey here.

——

Thank you for your participation in the virtual governance update for the IRC.

If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to reach out to us: irc@uebt.org.

The IRC Secretariat