Scope and Complaint Categories

Our Global Complaints and Allegations Policy addresses four distinct categories:

1. Fairtrade Internal Organisational Conduct : Complaints or allegations concerning employees, Board members, consultants, or third parties associated with a specific Fairtrade organisation are handled directly by the respective Fairtrade organisation.
2. Certified Operator Standards Violations: When allegations involve Fairtrade certified operators (Producers or Traders) and relate to breaches of the Fairtrade Standards, these matters are managed by the Assurance Provider.
3. Act to Protect Policy Violations: Complaints concerning Fairtrade certified operators that fall within the scope of the safeguarding are processed according to the Act to Protect policy's specific procedures.
4.  System-wide Complaints: Complex allegations involving multiple actors that relate to Fairtrade Members, or Fairtrade certified supply chain activities are classified as Fairtrade system-wide complaints and are coordinated centrally according to our internal procedures.

The Fairtrade Whistleblower Portal

We have implemented a confidential whistleblower tool that:

• Allows secure and anonymous reporting of concerns.
• Ensures protection for individuals raising legitimate issues.
• Facilitates transparent and fair investigation processes.

Currently, the following reporting channel is available via the Fairtrade Whistleblower Portal:

• ‘Internal Reporting Channel’ – cases against Fairtrade International employees, consultants, committee and Board members related to a misconduct in the scope of the German Whistleblower Protection Act and the Fairtrade Organisation Code and related FI Policies and internal ethical standards.

Cases submitted to the ‘Internal Reporting Channel’ are handled by and external law firm, KLIEMT. This is to ensure all whistleblowers are protected in line with the German Whistle-blowers act. 

Fairtrade International has entrusted Dr. Jan Heuer and Christina Hartmann with the execution of the Internal Reporting Office (Ombudspersons).

Click here to access the Whistleblower Portal.

Role of the Ombudspersons

The Ombudspersons will serve as independent, impartial resources for Fairtrade International. They will:

• Manage the confidential ‘Internal Reporting Channel’ on the Fairtrade Whistleblower Portal, for addressing employee concerns (more information coming soon).
• Offer trainings on the Fairtrade Whistleblower Portal and the German Whistleblower act and other applicable laws.
• Help navigate complex situations by engaging with the leadership and the compliance unit as needed.
• Support our commitment to transparency and accountability.

External Reporting

Whistleblowers can choose to submit a report through one of the external reporting offices of the respective national and EU authorities while the protection to the whistleblower still applies. Reporting to an internal reporting office is preferable if effective action can be taken internally against the violation and no reprisals are to be feared. If an internally reported violation has not been remedied, the whistleblower is free to contact an external reporting office.

The federal external reporting office of Germany can be reached on the website of the Federal Office of Justice (Bundesamt für Justiz).