World Fair Trade Organization

The World Fair Trade Organization ( WFTO ) ( formerly International Federation for Alternative Trade, IFAT; German International Federation for Alternative Trade ) was established in 1989 and is a global network of Fair Trade organizations from over 70 countries. The WFTO members are producer cooperatives and associations, export companies, importers, retailers, national and regional Fair Trade networks and financial institutions that are members of the Fair Trade movement. The WFTO therefore represents the entire fair trade chain, from product to sale.

The aim of the WFTO is to improve the social situation of disadvantaged producers, to promote cooperation of fair trade organizations and to promote greater equity in international trade. The core activities of the WFTO include:

  • The market development of Fair Trade
  • The confidence in the fair trade
  • Providing networking opportunities
  • Public Opinion on Fair Trade
  • Regional co-operation with producers

WFTO Seal

In 2013 WFTO launched a certification scheme and seals for Fair Trade. The WFTO Seal identifies registered organizations around the world that act solely fair trade products. A company that carries this seal, meets the ten criteria for fair trade that have been set by the WFTO, including with regard to the working conditions, transparency, salaries and wages, the environment, gender equality. Compliance with the standards is confirmed by a self-assessment, periodic review and external verification. In 2013 went through ten fair trade organizations as part of a pilot project, the certification process:

  • Pachacuti ( GB)
  • People Tree (UK and Japan)
  • Ayni (Bolivia )
  • El Puente ( Germany )
  • Kumbeswar Technical college (Nepal)
  • ATS ( Nepal)
  • Selyn (Sri Lanka)
  • Creative Handicrafts (India)
  • Thanapara Swallows ( Bangladesh)
  • Smolart (Kenya )

Gradually, all WFTO members will go through this process and have the opportunity to get the WFTO seal. The WFTO seal is not a product label (as opposed to the FLO / Fairtrade seal), but is used to seal organizations who subscribe to 100% Fair Trade. There they will thereby produce commercial as well as other Fair Trade Company, indicating that their core concerns of fair trade. Once certified, the company can use the seal on all of its products. The certification system of the WFTO is designed, among other things, because the previous Fairtrade certification system miteinbezog only as producers of so-called commodity products (raw materials ). Product standards in the arts and crafts, however, are technically difficult to impose because of the variety and complexity. The system offers an alternative by certified companies of fair trade itself.

10 Criteria

  • Opportunity for economically disadvantaged producers
  • Transparency and Accountability
  • Partnership trading practices
  • Payment of fair prices
  • Exclusion of exploitative child labor and forced labor
  • Gender equality, freedom of assembly, no discrimination
  • Better working conditions
  • Promotion of skills / training
  • Publicity and education work
  • Conservation

Local representative bodies

WFTO members in Asia, Europe and Latin America have joined together to form regional representative bodies:

  • Africa: COFTA

The Cooperation for Fair Trade in Africa COFTA is a fair trade network, small producers consisting of African producers organizations working with disadvantaged small producers

  • Asia: WFTO -Asia

The Asian representation of the WFTO operates in 15 countries and includes 90 Fair Trade organizations. Member countries are represented mainly by the poorest part of the continent: Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Korea, Laos, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor Leste and Vietnam. Take on different roles in Fair Trade, it is, among other things, producers, cooperatives, traders, NGOs, and faith- based organizations including.

  • Europe: WFTO Europe

WFTO Europe, once known as IFAT Europe (International Federation for Alternative Trade ) is the European representative body of the WFTO and consists of about 80 members, including fair-trade organizations, fair trade networks and supporting organizations.

  • Latin America: WFTO -LA

WFTO -LA consist of more than 50 members from 13 Latin American countries. The seat is in Areguá, Paraguay.

  • Pacific: WFTO - PACIFIC

WFTO - PACIFIC belong to members from 4 countries of the Pacific Rim: New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and Canada.

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