Besides FLO, many other organisations and companies try to promote socially and ecologically sustainable production and trade with disadvan-taged producers. FLO highly values its co-operation with Alternative Trade Organisations, World Shops and their umbrella structures (EFTA, IFAT and NEWS) and with social and organic labelling structures such as Naturland, IFOAM, SAI, FSC and CAN.


FINE
FLO meets with IFAT, NEWS and EFTA as FINE,
to share information and when appropriate to co-ordinate lobbying and awareness-raising efforts.


Definition of FAIRTRADE as agreed by FINE:
Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect that seek greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalised producers and workers – especially in the South.


Fair Trade organisations (backed by consumers) are engaged actively in supporting producers, awareness raising and in campaigning for changes in the rules and practice of conventional international trade.
> More about FINE members


ISEAL
The International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labelling (ISEAL) Alliance is a collaboration of all of the leading international standard-setting, accreditation and labelling organisations that are concerned with social and environmental criteria in product and renewable resource management certification. These organisations have recognised for some time that there are areas of overlap in their focus issues and similarities in the way they operate, but it was only in June 1999 that they first came together to discuss the benefits of working in collaboration.

The organisations that are currently participating in ISEAL include:


• Conservation Agriculture Network (CAN)
• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
• International Federation of Organic Agriculture   Movements (IFOAM)
• International Organic Accreditation Service (IOAS)
• Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
• Social Accountability International (SAI)
• Fairtrade Labelling Organizations (FLO)

Among the main reasons that participating organisations give for increased collaboration are:


• to gain international recognition and credibility for   their programs;
• to improve the quality and professionalism of their   respective organisations; and
• to defend the common interests of private sector   international standard-setting and accreditation   organisations.

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