UK: new fair trade standard approved

Members of the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT) voted to adopt a 10th fair trade standard at the AGM held in Paris on 27 September. The new standard, on trade relationships, joins the other nine standards on creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged producers, transparency and accountability, capacity building, promoting fair trade, payment of a fair price, gender equity, working conditions, child labour, and the environment. IFAT has a membership of several hundred fair trade organisations, mostly producer groups, from every continent. It is one of the two key organisations responsible for developing international standards for fair trade (the other is the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation, FLO). The new fair trade standard on trade relationships reads as follows: “The organization trades with concern for the social, economic and environmental well-being of marginalized small producers and does not maximise profit at their expense. It is responsible and professional in meeting its commitments in a timely manner. Suppliers respect contracts and deliver products on time and to the desired quality and specifications. Producers and suppliers are paid in a timely manner and in line with agreements made. Whenever possible and if help is required, producers are assisted with access to pre-harvest or pre-production financing (advance payments). Buyers consult with suppliers before cancelling or rejecting orders. Where orders are cancelled through no fault of producers or suppliers, adequate compensation is guaranteed for work already done. The organization maintains long term relationships based on solidarity, trust and mutual respect that contribute to the promotion and growth of fair trade. It maintains effective communication with its trading partners. Parties involved in a trading relationship seek to increase the volume of the trade between them and the value and diversity of their product offer as a means of growing fair trade for the producers. Buyers support processes which add value for producers in order to increase their incomes. The organization works cooperatively with other FTO?s in country and avoids unfair competition. It avoids duplicating the designs or patterns of other organizations without permission.” www.ifat.org