FAT - INTERNATIONAL
FEDERATION FOR ALTERNATIVE
TRADE
is a network of ATOs and producer organisations in Africa, Asia,
Europe, Latin America, North America and the Pacific Rim, established
in 1989. IFAT is a coalition to promote Fair Trade and a forum for
the exchange of information. It links and strengthens handicraft
and agricultural producer organisations from the South and ATOs
from both the North and South. Together, IFAT members work to improve
the lives of producers.
NEWS!
was established in 1994. It co-ordinates the co-operation between
World Shops in Europe. It is a network of national associations
of World Shops representing 2,500 shops in 13 member countries:
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy,
Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom. NEWS! initiates
and co-ordinates joint campaigns and awareness raising activities
of the European World Shops (for instance the annual European World
Shops Day in May) and supports the professionalisation of national
associations of World Shops. The aim of NEWS! is the promotion of
Fair Trade in general and the development of the World Shops movement
in particular.
World Shops sell Fair Trade products and raise awareness on Fair
Trade by initiating information activities, exhibitions, educational
programmes and actions. Along with Fair Trade importers, they organise
joint campaigns to promote Fair Trade and change the rules and practices
of conventional trade. They co-operate with Fair Trade importers
in inviting industry and trade to adopt the Fair Trade model, for
instance, by putting a number of certified Fair Trade products on
the market. World shops co-operate on local, regional, national
and international levels, supported by their National Associations.
EFTA
was established in 1990 and an association of
12 Fair Trade importers in 9 European countries: Austria, Belgium,
France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and
the United Kingdom. Fair Trade importing organizations buy food
and handicrafts from disadvantaged producers. The basis of their
trade is the FLO Standards, to which additional Standards may be
added with the aim of providing special support to particular target
groups (women, ethnic minorities, politically pursued, etc). They
focus on improving market access and strengthening producer organizations.
In Europe, they sell their products through World shops, local groups,
campaigns, wholesale and mail order catalogue. Along with the sales
of Fair Trade products, the importing organizations raise awareness
among consumers and they campaign for changes in the rules and practice
of conventional international trade.
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