Dear Trade Certification Operators,

Thank you very much for your participation in FLO Fairtrade.

As you may know FLO-Cert has been revised its certification fees for 2006. The FLO Board had directed FLO-Cert to implement a fee system that was based on the actual cost of certification. The application fees has also been adjusted.

FLO-Cert consulted with all affected Operators in August, and would like to thank Operators for submitting such constructive feedback. This feedback has been reviewed and some modifications have been made to clarify some issues, however the basic system remains largely the same.

This revised fee system was presented to the FLO Board at its November meeting and was accepted with a few small changes. This new system of fees will help FLO-Cert improve certification services and provide a sound financial basis for our operations.

All affected Operators have been sent an assessment. (FLO Registered Operators who are licensees do not pay the Trade Certification Fee.)

Invoices will be sent out in December, but will only be payable after January 1st.

Thank you once again for you support of FLO Fairtrade. We wish you all the best and look forward to working with you in the coming year.

John Young
Director Trade Certification
FLO-Cert GmbH