Fair Trade USA (formerly Transfair USA) has decided to cease its membership of Fairtrade International (formerly FLO)

September 15, 2011

Joint Announcement from Fairtrade International and Fair Trade USA

"Fairtrade International (FLO) and Fair Trade USA (FTUSA) share a belief in the importance of empowering producers and workers around the world to improve their lives through better terms of trade. However, as we look to the future, we recognize that we have different perspectives on how best to achieve this common mission.

As a consequence, Fair Trade USA has decided to resign its membership of the Fairtrade International (FLO) system effective December 31, 2011.

As we go our separate ways, both Fairtrade International and Fair Trade USA are committed to maintaining the benefits we have achieved for farmers and workers, for business partners and for our supporters, and to growing impact over time. We are working together on transition plans.

This transition planning and the consequent operational changes will take some time for both parties to develop, but we are announcing the decision as early as possible out of respect for our many stakeholders. Further communication will follow in the coming weeks."

September 27, 2011

Fair Trade USA and SCS Announce Joint Partnership

"Fair Trade USA, the leading nonprofit certifier of Fair Trade products in the United States, and Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), a globally-respected, independent third-party certification company, announced details of their new strategic partnership today.

As part of a new innovation strategy, Fair Trade USA plans to pilot and introduce updated standards that will extend the benefits of Fair Trade to millions more farmers and workers; provide U.S. businesses with more sustainable supply options; and empower consumers to make every purchase matter through greater selection and availability of Fair Trade Certified™ products. The organization’s goal is to double the impact of Fair Trade by 2015. In support of this ambitious goal, SCS has been engaged to conduct audits and certify new producer groups that now will be able to join the Fair Trade movement."

October 10, 2011

WFTO response to Fair Trade USA-FLO split

"The recent decision by Fair Trade USA (formerly Transfair USA) to withdraw from the Fairtrade Labelling Organization (FLO), and to extend the scope of Fair Trade to include plantations and factories, has long-term and far-reaching consequences for the Fair Trade movement.

The World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), as a global representative body of members committed to 100% Fair Trade and the only global network whose members represent the Fair Trade chain from production to sale, is extremely concerned by this decision. Our concern lies on the decision's likely impact on thousands of small farmers and producers around the world who have established organized democratic organizations to ensure the benefits of Fair Trade are equitable.

Fair Trade was established to enable producers to improve their livelihoods and communities through trading with buyers whose behaviour was governed by an agreed set of principles. Over time though, there has been an unfortunate change of emphasis whereby it is now the producers (artisans and farmers) whose actions are under the microscope rather than the buying organizations. In effect, the certification systems have changed Fair Trade to such an extent that sales of products are the main measure of success instead of the welfare of producers. The WFTO believes the interests of producers, especially small farmers and artisans, should be the main focus in all the policies, governance, structures and decision making within the Fair Trade movement.

We see little evidence of dialogue, transparency or respect (key aspects that define Fair Trade) in the unilateral decision of Fair Trade USA to widen the scope of Fair Trade in ways that will surely negatively impact those currently involved. This action seems more to satisfy and enrich the very people whose actions caused Fair Trade to be established in the first place, at the expense of the small farmer/producer. The Fair Trade supply chain should be relational in nature, with equal input and ownership by all parties, the changes proposed by Fair Trade USA would reduce this to a conventional supply chain with a price premium that will concentrate all the power at the top.

It is undeniable that many workers on plantations and in factories are in desperate need of improvements to their working conditions. However, formal employment is covered by local country laws and ILO conventions, and it should be those instruments that Fair Trade USA should turn to for improvements rather than widening the scope and watering down the principles of Fair Trade. If these types of operation are included in the Fair Trade system, then small producers (farmers and artisans) will not be able to compete against the scale of operation of larger enterprises. It is not unthinkable under this scenario to have a multinational operation own the entire supply chain and be able to label it as Fair Trade. This is completely unacceptable to the WFTO.

We remain committed to working with small marginalized producers, farmers and artisans, around the world to ensure they are the focus of the Fair Trade movement and to speaking out against developments that work against them."

Producer reaction

The 3 major producer networks (representing 800 producers groups comprised of around 1 million producers in 60 countries) in Fair Trade certification have strongly opposed the move by Fair Trade USA - see here.