Based on the findings of the investigation it commissioned, the Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI) Board has unanimously decided to lift the temporary suspension of JA Solar’s membership imposed on 16 January 2025 with immediate effect, recognising the company’s full cooperation and commitment in good faith to the established SSI Principles.
The SSI reiterates its commitment to fostering responsible production, sourcing and stewardship of solar photovoltaic materials, and will continue to monitor consistently compliance with and application of the SSI Principles for all members.
The SSI’s Complaints and Appeals Mechanism remains publicly available for all stakeholders to raise concerns related to the implementation of SSI policies, procedures, and operating processes.
Background
The SSI’s investigation was triggered by an announcement by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on 14 January 2025 regarding updates to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List. Specifically, the entity Donghai JA Solar Technology Co., Ltd, which is part of the JA Solar group, was added to the UFLPA Entity List.
The SSI investigation
Following the DHS announcement, the SSI conducted an investigation from 16 to 24 January 2025.
The investigation primarily focused on:
- A site visit to the Donghai JA Solar Technology Co., Ltd facility, conducted by a senior member of the SSI Secretariat with a 20-year track record of international, independent third-party assessments, accompanied by an independent translator mandated by the SSI.
- A review of legal and contractual documentation related to Donghai JA Solar Technology Co., Ltd’s operations, including polysilicon supply contracts.
- Consultations with relevant stakeholders: senior staff from the JA Solar group, independent solar supply chain experts, and other industry and non-industry stakeholders.
The SSI received full cooperation from the JA Solar group throughout the investigation. The investigation revealed no violation of the SSI Principles.
The investigation verified that the only production site owned by the Donghai JA Solar Technology Co., Ltd entity ceased production in 2018. It also confirmed that Donghai JA Solar Technology Co., Ltd has been adapting its sourcing practices as part of the broader JA Solar group’s commitment towards compliance with the SSI’s traceability and certification requirements.
It is also noted that the DHS announcement does not state or imply that the US Government has established that the JA Solar group owns or operates any entities or facilities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), nor that the company uses any forced labour at any of its sites globally.
SSI Board decision and Statement
Based on the outcome of the investigation and in reference to the SSI Principles, the SSI Board concluded that JA Solar’s temporary suspension of membership should be lifted with immediate effect, i.e. 29 January 2025.
Moreover, the SSI Board stated:
“The SSI’s mandate is to actively engage with companies exposed to supply chain risks to drive the improvement of transparency and responsible practices across solar supply chains. The SSI supports continuous improvements in operating practices across the solar supply chain through a combination of independent third-party audits and guidance on risk management, with all actions aligned with established European law and international standards.¹
Ensuring a responsible and transparent supply chain for the EU and the UK, while also working toward the same global goals in the long term remain a core priority for the SSI.
The SSI Board acknowledges the vital role historical reports have played in raising awareness of supply chain risks and driving improvements in Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) and traceability performance. Today, the solar sector’s rapidly evolving ESG and traceability performance means that governments, institutions, investors, and NGOs have to rely on up-to-date data, i.e. no older than 12 months, and recognise companies’ publicly available policy management procedures.
The SSI helps ensure that such accurate, up-to-date information is readily available, by offering a comprehensive and robust assessment system. This system currently encompasses a sizeable ESG site assessment pipeline, approximately 100 GW of annual module production capacity and 20 GW of annual cell production capacity.²
In June 2024, the SSI Board, in consultation with SSI members and stakeholders, started investigating measures to further strengthen these efforts via additional actions to enhance supply chain penetration and transparency regarding the initiative’s impact.”
For more information about the SSI, including its principles, standards, and processes, please visit the rest of our website or refer to the online FAQ.
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