Walmart Supplier Compliance Checklist 2025

Foundation

Supplier Requirements Overview

Walmart is one of the world's largest retailers with rigorous supplier qualification standards. Every India manufacturer must clear these five baseline requirements before receiving and fulfilling Walmart purchase orders.

RSC (Responsible Supplier Certification) AuditWalmart's own pass/fail supplier qualification audit covering financial health, documentation, and operational standards. Mandatory for all direct Walmart suppliers.

SMETA Audit (2-Pillar or 4-Pillar)Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit covering labor practices, health & safety, environment, and business ethics. Walmart requires a valid SMETA report on file.

Product Safety TestingCPSC, FCC, ASTM, and FDA standards per product category. All tests must be conducted by ISO/IEC 17025 accredited, Walmart-accepted laboratories.

Documentation PackageComplete supplier file including audit reports, test certificates, business registration, and financial statements for submission via Walmart's GTS Portal.

Code of Conduct AcknowledgmentSigned acknowledgment of Walmart's Standards for Suppliers — Walmart's global code covering ethics, labor, environmental, and product safety obligations.

Facility Compliance

Factory & Social Audit (SMETA)

Walmart requires a valid SMETA audit for all manufacturing facilities. This ethical trade audit is conducted by Sedex-accredited third-party auditors and covers four key pillars.

Labor PracticesWorking hours limits (max 60 hrs/week), wage payment records (12 months), signed employment contracts for all workers, zero forced or child labor documentation.

Health & SafetyFire safety systems and evacuation drills, chemical handling procedures and MSDS, emergency response plan, PPE availability and training records for all workers.

Environmental ManagementWaste disposal records and procedures, effluent treatment documentation, written environmental policy statement — required for 4-pillar SMETA.

Business EthicsAnti-bribery and anti-corruption policy, worker grievance mechanism in local language, management transparency and open-book audit access — required for 4-pillar SMETA.

Sedex RegistrationCompany and facility registered on the Sedex platform (sedexglobal.com) with a valid Sedex ID before audit can be scheduled and results shared with Walmart.

Mock Audit CompletionInternal gap assessment conducted against SMETA standards. All identified non-conformances remediated and documented before scheduling the real audit.

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4-Pillar Recommended

4-pillar SMETA is recommended for broader coverage and most Walmart product categories. It adds Environment and Business Ethics to the standard 2-pillar Labor & H&S audit.

Product Safety

Product Testing Checklist

Walmart requires third-party product safety and quality testing for all categories. Tests must be conducted by ISO/IEC 17025 accredited labs. Find your category below.

Children's Products

CPSIA testing — lead & phthalates (MANDATORY)

Children's Product Certificate (CPC) required

ASTM F963 for toy safety compliance

Age-appropriate and choking hazard labels

Flammability per applicable CPSC standards

Electronics

FCC authorization (if RF-emitting device)

UL or ETL safety certification

RoHS compliance — lead-free solder

Battery testing per UN38.3 (if applicable)

EMC / electromagnetic compatibility test

Textiles

Flammability — 16 CFR Part 1610/1615/1616

Fiber content labeling (FTC required)

Formaldehyde and azo dye testing

Heavy metals screening

CPSIA if children's apparel category

Kitchen & Food Contact

FDA food contact material compliance

Heavy metals — lead and cadmium limits

Migration testing for food-contact surfaces

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS/SDS)

Prop 65 chemical screening

Home Decor & Furniture

Flammability per CPSC 16 CFR standards

VOC and formaldehyde emission testing

Structural stability and tip-over testing

Prop 65 (formaldehyde, lead paint)

CARB compliance for composite wood

Personal Care & Beauty

FDA cosmetic facility registration

Heavy metals — lead, mercury, arsenic

Microbiological testing (preservative efficacy)

Full ingredient disclosure (INCI names)

Stability testing (6–12 months minimum)

Paperwork

Documentation Checklist

Walmart requires a comprehensive supplier documentation file for GTS Portal submission. Every document listed below must be current, accessible, and in English.

RSC Audit ReportValid passing RSC audit report from a Walmart-approved auditing firm. RSC is pass/fail — only a passing report qualifies you as a Walmart supplier.

SMETA Audit ReportCurrent 2-pillar or 4-pillar SMETA audit report uploaded to Sedex and shared with Walmart. SMETA reports are valid for 2–3 years depending on grade.

Product Test CertificatesLab test reports for all product categories from ISO/IEC 17025 accredited labs. Reports must show all applicable test methods, pass/fail results, and lab credentials.

Business Registration DocumentsGST certificate, company registration certificate, TIN/tax identification number, and any applicable export/import licenses.

Last 2 Years Financial StatementsAudited financial statements required for the RSC audit's financial stability assessment. Must be prepared by a registered chartered accountant.

Insurance CertificatesProduct liability insurance and general liability insurance. Policy must list Walmart Inc. as an additional insured with minimum coverage limits per Walmart requirements.

Bill of Materials (BOM)Complete BOM for all products with raw material sources, percentages, and country of origin for each component. Required for supply chain traceability.

Code of Conduct SignedSigned copy of Walmart's Standards for Suppliers — the company's global code of conduct for ethical, labor, environmental, and product safety compliance.

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Always On Call

Walmart can request documentation at any time. Keep all documents current and accessible — you must be able to produce a complete compliance package within 24 hours of any Walmart request.

Digital Submission

Walmart Portal Submission

Once all documentation is ready, submit to Walmart through the GTS (Global Technology Supplier) Portal. Complete these steps in order.

GTS Portal Account SetupSupplier profile created on Walmart's Global Technology Supplier portal. Account access is provided after initial buyer introduction — contact your Walmart merchant to initiate.

Company Profile CompleteAll company details entered correctly: legal name, registered address, banking information for payment, and primary compliance contact person.

RSC Audit UploadedPassing RSC audit report uploaded to GTS Portal in the required PDF format. Report must be from a Walmart-approved RSC auditing firm and within validity period.

SMETA Report UploadedCurrent SMETA 2-pillar or 4-pillar audit report uploaded with correct validity dates. Report must be shared via Sedex as well as directly uploaded to GTS Portal.

Product Test Reports UploadedAll test certificates uploaded per product category. Each report filed against the correct SKU/item number in the portal system.

Item Setup CompleteProduct specifications, images, packaging dimensions, compliance documents, and HTS codes entered per item. All fields marked required must be completed before submission review.

Watch Out

Common Compliance Failures

Top reasons India manufacturers fail Walmart qualification or face supplier suspension. Understand these risks before you begin.

RSC Audit Failure

Missing financial records, disorganized documentation, or inability to demonstrate operational controls. RSC is strictly pass/fail — failure means a 6–12 month wait before re-audit eligibility.

SMETA Labor Non-Compliance

Excessive working hours beyond 60/week, unexplained wage gaps, missing employment contracts, or evidence of forced overtime. Major labor findings lead to immediate supplier suspension.

Expired Audit Certificates

SMETA audit reports expire in 2–3 years. Walmart actively monitors audit validity dates and can suspend supplier accounts the day an audit expires without a renewal on file.

Product Test Report Gaps

Missing test reports for specific SKUs, or test reports from non-Walmart-accepted labs. Walmart conducts random shelf testing — failing a shelf test triggers supply chain investigation.

Incomplete Supply Chain Traceability

Inability to trace raw materials back to their source. Walmart requires full supply chain visibility including tier-2 and tier-3 suppliers for high-risk materials.

Subcontractor Non-Compliance

Using unapproved or unaudited subcontractors without Walmart's knowledge. All manufacturing locations — including sub-contractors — must be disclosed and hold valid SMETA audits.

Getting Started

How to Get Walmart Qualified

1

Conduct Internal Gap Assessment

Audit your own factory against SMETA standards and Walmart's RSC requirements. Identify gaps in documentation, labor practices, H&S systems, and financial records before any external audit.

2

Register on Sedex and Book SMETA Audit

Create your facility account at sedexglobal.com, obtain a Sedex ID, then engage a Sedex-accredited auditing firm. Allow 2–4 weeks for scheduling and 3–5 days for the audit itself.

3

Schedule RSC Audit with Walmart-Approved Firm

RSC audits must be conducted by Walmart-approved auditors. Contact your Walmart merchant or buyer to get the current approved auditor list and initiate scheduling.

4

Commission Product Testing

Submit product samples to an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited, Walmart-accepted testing laboratory. Allow 2–4 weeks per product category. Ensure tests cover all applicable standards for your category.

5

Assemble Complete Documentation File

Collect RSC audit report, SMETA report, all product test certificates, business registration, financial statements, insurance certificates, BOM, and signed Code of Conduct. Organize per SKU.

6

Submit via GTS Portal and Complete Item Setup

Upload all documents to Walmart's GTS Portal. Complete the company profile, item setup for each SKU, and compliance document linking. Submit for Walmart's compliance review.

7

Maintain and Renew Proactively

Track audit and certificate expiry dates. Renew SMETA and RSC audits before expiry. Re-test products if materials or manufacturing location change. Keep documentation available within 24 hours at all times.