WFTO Fair Trade Standard

The World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) is a global network of organisations representing the Fair Trade supply chain. WFTO is the home of fair traders: producers, marketers, exporters, importers, wholesalers and retailers that demonstrate 100% commitment to Fair Trade. The goal of the WFTO is to enable small producers to improve their livelihoods and communities through sustainable Fair Trade. It does this by delivering market access through policy, advocacy, campaigning, marketing and monitoring. The WFTO is a guardian of Fair Trade values. The WFTO Guarantee System is a credible, sustainable and robust assurance mechanism that Fair Trade is implemented in the supply chain and practices of an organisation. It is an accountability and development tool for organisations. Members that passed the GS process attain the ‘Guaranteed Fair Trade Organisation’ status and may use the WFTO Label on their products. It is not a product certification system. The WFTO Fair Trade Standard is the heart of the Guarantee System, focusing on the management and operation of Fair Trade Organisations in relation to their Fair Trade practices. The WFTO Standard comprises a set of compliance criteria based on the 10 Fair Trade Principles and International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions. Many of these criteria are mandatory requirements to join WFTO. There are also other non-mandatory requirements, where WFTO members must show continuous improvement over time. Compliance with this Standard will be assessed by various means, including the Self-Assessment Report, the Peer Visit and the Monitoring Audit. These are described in the WFTO Guarantee System Handbook. The Standard is subject to periodic review and changes under the guidance of the WFTO Standard and Guarantee System Committee. The GS was approved and implemented by the WFTO Membership in May 2013.