Fair Trade Sustainability Alliance
Fa i r T S A
©Global Innovations for Fair Trade
General Presentation
What makes the FairTSA program unique?
FairTSA has developed a unique Fair Trade program with
strong requirements regarding environmental and social
sustainability.
Goals:
FairTSA minimizes Certification & Administration
Using the established
structure of ISO 65
accredited organic
certification agencies
Accepting organic and
other food quality
certification systems as
part of FairTSA
requirements
Tailoring audits to their
exact purpose,
minimizing
certification costs
Co-branding with
certifiers and
licensees
Advantages for Consumers
Increased
accountability and
transparency
Low overall
system costs
results in…
More of each dollar spent goes
to small farmers and workers
No expensive
parallel
inspections
FairTSA Cooperating Certifiers
Aditi
Biocert
India
Mayacert
Ceres
BCS
FairTSA
NASAA
CCOF
Control
Union
QC&I
Agreco
Our collaborating certifiers represent more than 20,000 certified operations
Players in the FairTSA Program
Audit
Licensees
FairTSA
FT Standard
Training
Inspection
Certification
Community Development Support
Producers
Advantages of Separation between Standard
Holder and Certifier
We are not in the certification business
Our focus is on:
 Communication with all of our clients
 Coaching of producers to help them become compliant and remain in
compliance with our standard requirements
 Help with marketing of FairTSA certified products
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As FairTSA is only the standard holder, we are free to provide these services
and still be in compliance with ISO guidelines, which prohibit certifiers from
coaching, consulting and providing of marketing support.
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FairTSA conducts independent audits of both cooperating certifiers and
certified producers and randomly shadows inspectors
Assurance of Fair and Above Market Prices
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Prices for our certified products are 5% above prices for comparable
products in the region (basis: farm gate price)
In addition, engagement in a Community Development Project has to be
instituted, and an additional Social Premium of at least 5% of the farm
gate price is due for capital investment in the producer community
The price is negotiated between the parties who are required to take the
provision above into account, aided by Fair TSA
Additionally: FairTSA may institute a Minimum Price if world market
prices fall below production cost + reasonable margin
Ensuring Better Wages and Working Conditions
Ensuring Better Wages and Working
Conditions by Goal-Oriented Inspections
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Inspectors check at least three (or more, depending on number of workers)
actual work contracts and attach copies to inspection report for review
Inspectors check if wage documentation is complete for all workers
Inspectors check working and living conditions (if applicable) and document
non-compliances via digital photographs
Inspectors conduct informal interviews with workers
Ensuring Sound Environmental and
Stewardship Practices (organic operations)
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We accept NOP, European, Australian, and Canadian organic regulations as
basically fulfilling our sound environmental practices requirements
Currently, more than 95% of our producers are certified under the above
organic regulations
In addition, we have requirements for:
 Treatment of protected species
 Preservation of valuable ecosystems
 Sustainable waste management techniques
Ensuring Sound Environmental and
Stewardship Practices (non-organic
operations)
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FairTSA requires beneficial practices for agricultural operations, including
 Crop rotation
 Minimization of run-off
 Use of compost
 Use of non-chemical crop protection practices
Limited use of pesticides with exclusion of most dangerous and persistent
ones
The same additional requirements as for organic operations apply
FairTSA
Community Development Programming
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We have developed our own innovative
community development service
We regard our cutting-edge participatory
community development program as the
best way to leverage small farmers’ and
workers’ engagement, and investment in
such projects can multiply the actual
investment amount received
Our participatory self-evaluation system
allows for direct evaluation of the
program and as such serves not only the
community, but can also serve as a tool
to demonstrate project progress and
impact
Community Development
Collaborative
planning and
support
Social Premium
Local
NGO
KDP*
FairTSA
CD Service Fee
Licensee
* KDP=Key Development Partner, usually a
processing facility with highly committed management
Project Audit
Producer/community projects
Certifier
Scope of Certification Inspection (Audit):
Entity
Agricultural producers in
country of origin
Audit scope and schedule
Full scope of standard every year
Processing in country of origin Full scope of standard every year
Traders in country of origin
Limited Audit very year
Traders, processors,
manufacturers, co-packers in
country of import
Limited audit every year, full
certification for multi-ingredient
products
Scope of Certification & Inspection:
Agricultural Production
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Fair prices
Appropriate working, living and
occupational health & safety conditions
No discrimination because of race or tribal
association, gender, sexual orientation etc.
Freedom to unionize or create worker
committees
Environmental sustainability (either organic
or clearly described agricultural practices
with limited pesticide use)
If applicable: Community development
project progress
Scope of Certification & Inspection:
Processing in Country of Origin
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Fair wages
Appropriate working and
occupational health & safety
conditions
Product integrity:
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Audit trail
Check for prohibited
ingredients
Prevention of commingling
Labeling
Training of Inspectors
Only inspectors trained and authorized by FairTSA are
permitted to carry out and review FairTSA inspection and
certification!
Initial training consists of at least:
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Studying of relevant documentation (Standard, Inspection and
Certification Guide, System Plans and Inspection Reports, supporting
literature)
A four hour on-site training session or live webinar
A questionnaire to be successfully answered
Operation-specific training before first inspection
Review and feedback for first inspection report
Additional on-site trainings with an accompanying trainer
can be arranged and are necessary in very complex cases.
Support for Producer Compliance
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We conduct producer seminars on a regular basis
We continue to develop resource materials for producers, which
can be downloaded from our web site at
www.fairtsa.org/producer-resources.html
Each producer is assigned a Producer Relations Manager that
will stay in touch with producer personnel and the inspector in
charge to support producers with compliance and get
community development stories out to the public in a consistent
and convincing manner.
Types of Certified Products:
Fruit, fruit purees, dried fruit, IQF fruit, grains, beans, herbs, seeds, nuts, oils,
sweeteners, chocolate products, coffee, tea, salt, spices, and many more…
Summary of Benefits of Engaging in
FairTSA Fair Trade
For Producers
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Receive premium price
Community Development
resources
Long-term relationship
Marketing
For Certifiers
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Double certification (organic/FT)
Expansion of audit business
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Cost-effective for existing clients
New clients
For Licensees
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Double certification (organic/FT)
Enhanced Community Development
visibility
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Marketing
Social responsibility