Fair Trade in the world

“Fair Trade is a trading partnership based on dialogue, transparency and respect, seeking for a greater justice in global commerce. It contributes to viable growth offering better trade conditions and securing the rights of marginalized producers and workers, mainly in the South. The organizations that deal with fair trade (supported by the consumers) are actively devoted to supporting the producers and to enlightening and campaigning for a change in the rules and the practices of conventional international trade.”. (December 2001)

Worldwide fair trade is monitored by the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), that certifies producers’ partnerships in developing countries, organizations that promote the values and principles of the Fair Trade movement (like Fair Trade Hellas) and various commercial corporations and partnerships in wealthy countries that trade or even certify the products according the acceptable standards.

These standards were determined and commonly accepted in 2009 and they were embodied in the Charter of Fair Trade Principles which is the only international datum for fair trade throughout the world.

In Europe fair trade has been legitimized by the European Parliament (2006), the European Economic and Social Committee (2009), the European Commission (2009) and by the Committee of Regions (2010).

Nowadays, over 1 million small producers from over 50 developing countries participate in the World Fair Trade Organization. Their communities and families benefit from fair trade international movement.