| Should the modern concept of fair trade, an ancient | | | | that most notably highlights the exclusion element of |
| term that was given its current identity in the | | | | the current system. |
| Netherlands more than 20 years ago, be subject to a | | | | So what could be done to change this? It is foolish to |
| growing exclusivity? Should fair trade be free from | | | | suggest that there should be no official governing |
| official restriction to allow, and maybe more | | | | bodies to ensure that when a product is labeled "fair |
| importantly encourage, anyone who wants to make | | | | trade", it is fair trade. Much in the same way that |
| a positive contribution to do so? | | | | eggs must be labeled "Free Range" or "From Caged |
| We at have been battling with these questions. Our | | | | Hens", products labeled "fair trade" must conform to |
| research into the global fair trade community has | | | | a designated criteria or the entire system becomes |
| yielded an increasing number of cases in which | | | | open to widespread abuse. What may however be |
| companies and individuals, who are proactive and | | | | advancement to the current system is to allow |
| committed members of the fair trade industry are | | | | smaller businesses to advertise their products as "fair |
| being sidelined because they cannot afford to gain | | | | trade" or "fairly traded" if they conform to a more |
| the very accreditation that their work, in some | | | | general set of agreed criteria. |
| respects, should achieve by default. Not that for one | | | | This would allow many more small businesses to |
| minute anyone should think that we are proposing a | | | | bene?t from the ever growing global fair trade |
| "free-for-all" with fair trade. It is only through the | | | | economy. Look out for our stamp of approval – |
| dedication of established organisations such as the | | | | this means that we are confident that the company |
| World Fair Trade Organisation (IFAT) and the | | | | is doing its best to uphold the standards of fair trade, |
| Fairtrade Foundation, that the validity of fair trade | | | | even though it is not officially certified. Many |
| products has been able to gain widespread consumer | | | | companies are striving to get official recognition – |
| approval. | | | | in some cases it can take several years to get |
| It is simply the fact that a growing number of | | | | international fair trade certification but we recognise |
| individuals and organisations are being excluded from | | | | their actions now. |
| official, and thus consumer, recognition. Currently, for | | | | Until independent certification is available for other |
| a manufacturer or service provider to gain official | | | | products such as gifts, crafts, accessories and certain |
| accreditation (such as the mark of the Fairtrade | | | | types of clothing, we feel that it is important to |
| Foundation) for their product they may have to go | | | | support those suppliers, manufacturers and |
| through a lengthy application process, which, if | | | | communities who demonstrate their support for fair |
| successful, allows them to feature the mark in return | | | | trade principles, and who are trying to benefit the |
| for a small percentage of their income. | | | | communities in which they work and trade. This also |
| Whilst this process seems to be both fair and | | | | includes co-operatives and communities who are |
| reasonably priced, the timescales, indirect costs and | | | | striving to maintain traditional skills and crafts. We |
| strict product criteria often leave smaller businesses | | | | would class these individuals and companies as |
| unable to gain the endorsement that their larger, | | | | promoters of fair trade or purveyors of fairly traded |
| corporate backed rivals so easily achieve. It is this | | | | goods. |