Aims of the Fairtrade Standards

Fairtrade Standards ensure fairer terms of trade between farmers and buyers, protect workers’ rights, and provide the framework for producers to build thriving farms and organizations.

12983 Banana Worker Panama 870
Feliciana, a member of COOBANA cooperative in Panama, holds a banana bunch ready for export.
Image © James Rodriguez

Key objectives

The key objectives of the Fairtrade Standards are to:

  • ensure that producers receive prices that cover their average costs of sustainable production

  • provide an additional Fairtrade Premium which can be invested in projects that enhance social, economic and environmental development

  • enable pre-financing for producers who require it

  • facilitate long-term trading partnerships and enable greater producer control over the trading process

  • set clear core and development criteria to ensure that the conditions of production and trade of all Fairtrade certified products are both socially and economically fair as well as environmentally responsible

Core requirements and development requirements

Fairtrade Standards distinguish between core requirements, which producers must meet to be certified, and development requirements that encourage producers to continuously improve and to invest in the development of their organizations and their workers.

This concept is developed for the target group of Fairtrade: disadvantaged producers and workers. It encourages sustainable, social, economic and environmental development of producers and their organizations.

Common principles

The following common principles are considered in all Fairtrade standards applicable to small-scale producers and workers and their organizations:

Social development

For small-scale producers Fairtrade standards require an organizational structure that allows the producers to actually bring a product to the market. All members of the organization need to have access to democratic decision-making processes and as far as possible participate in the activities of the organization. The organization needs to be set up in a transparent way for its members and must not discriminate against any particular member or social group.

In hired labour situations the Fairtrade standards require the company to bring social rights and security to its workers. Some of the core elements are: training opportunities, non-discriminatory employment practices, no child labour, no forced labour, access to collective bargaining processes and freedom of association of the workforce, conditions of employment exceeding legal minimum requirements, adequate occupational safety and health conditions, and sufficient facilities for the workforce to manage the Fairtrade Premium.

Economic development

For all products Fairtrade standards require the buyers to pay a Fairtrade Minimum Price and/or a Fairtrade Premium to the producers. The Fairtrade Minimum Price aims to help producers cover the costs of sustainable production. The Fairtrade Premium is money for the producers or for the workers on a plantation to invest in improving the quality of their lives. Premium money in this sense is meant to improve the situation of workers, farmers and local communities in health, education, environment, economy, and other areas. The farmers or workers decide the most important priorities for themselves and manage the use of the Fairtrade Premium.

Fairtrade standards also require buyers to give a financial advance on contracts, called pre-financing, if producers request it. This is to help producers to have access to capital and thus overcome what can be one of the biggest obstacles to their development. This promotes entrepreneurship and can assist the economic development of entire rural communities.

Environmental development

Fairtrade standards include requirements for environmentally sound agricultural practices. The focus areas are: minimized and safe use of agrochemicals, proper and safe management of waste, maintenance of soil fertility and water resources, and no use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Fairtrade standards do not require organic certification, however organic production is promoted and is rewarded by higher Fairtrade Minimum Prices for organically grown products.

Prohibition of forced labour and child labour

Forced labour and child labour are prohibited in the Fairtrade standards.

Principles for small-scale producer organizations and hired labour situations

Besides the common principles described above, there are specific principles that apply to small producer organizations and hired labour situations.

  • Members must be small-scale producers. The majority of the members of the organization must be smallholders who don’t depend on hired workers all the time, but run their farm mainly by using their own and their family’s labour.
  • Democracy. All members have a voice and vote in the decision-making process of the organization. Members also decide collectively how to use the Fairtrade Premium (the extra sum of money paid on top of the selling price) to best suit their needs.
  • Enabling strong producer organizations. The Standard provides a framework for small-scale producers to build resilient and inclusive organizations, improve their farming performance, and generate more benefits for their members and their communities.
  • Management of the Fairtrade Premium – The Fairtrade Premium Committee, made up of workers, is responsible for the management of the Fairtrade Premium in accordance with Fairtrade standards.
  • Freedom of association and collective bargaining – Workers have the right to join an independent union to collectively negotiate their working conditions.
  • Working conditions – Working conditions are equitable for all workers. Salaries must be equal or higher than the regional average or than the minimum wage. Health and safety measures must be established in order to avoid work-related injuries