Standards Committee

Final standard decisions are voted upon by the Standards Committee, a multi-stakeholder body within Fairtrade International. Fifty percent of the committee members are producer representatives, so we can ensure that the perspectives of all relevant Fairtrade stakeholders are equally taken into account.

Learn who currently is an appointed member of the Standards Committee or read its terms of reference.

Here you can find dates for the next meetings and minutes of past meetings.

In 2024, the final Standards Committee meetings will take place on:

• December 4-5-6

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Standards work in progress

To be as transparent as possible, Fairtrade International publishes the plans and timelines for developing and reviewing standards and prices on a yearly basis.

Download this year's plan. (INK TO WORK IN PROGRESS PAGE)

ISEAL Code of Good Practice for Standard Setting

Fairtrade Standards are set in compliance with the ISEAL code of Good Practice. Sounds good, but what does it mean?

• Consultations with major stakeholders within Fairtrade provide the basis of all standard setting.
• Fairtrade International sets the Standards and supports producers in meeting them, but certification and regular audits are handled by FLOCERT as a separate certification organisation.

Find more information about levels of responsibility in standard setting on the ISEAL website.

Fairtrade International has successfully demonstrated overall compliance with ISEAL’s Code of Good Practice for Setting Social and Environmental Standards version 6.0, and has been formally approved by the ISEAL Membership Committee in May 2016.

As a full member of the ISEAL Alliance, we are committed to delivering positive impact and embracing credible practices.

Standard setting processes

Interested in the details of Fairtrade Standards? Learn more about the internal processes through which we create new standards and revise existing ones:

Learn more

• Developing Fairtrade Standards: Full version | Short summary 
• Developing Fairtrade Prices: Full version | Short summary 
• Complaining about Fairtrade Standards: Full version | Short summary 

Request forms

Would you like to certify a product we don’t yet have standards for or do you have another request? The documents below were developed in accordance with ISEAL requirements to help you participate in Fairtrade’s standard setting processes.

EN | Standards project request

EN | Pricing project request

EN | Quick Entrance request form

EN | Secondary products request

EN | Herbs and Spices request

EN | Project assignment feedback form ES | Formulario de feedback PT | Formulário de feedback

EN | Cost of Sustainable Production Guidance document EN | COSP Templates

SP | Costo de Producción Sostenible - Documento orientativo

EN | Standard suspension request form

EN | Standard suspension feedback form

EN | Price suspension request form

EN | Price suspension feedback form

EN | Complaint form against Fairtrade standard setting procedure

EN | Responsible Fibre application form

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Getting certified

For a product to carry the Fairtrade Mark, every producer organisation, trader, manufacturer, processor and company involved in buying or selling must be certified – from growth or extraction to the packaged product available in stores

Learn how to apply for Fairtrade certification. LINK

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Who Fairtrade has standards for

Fairtrade Standards are tailored to the realities of farmer cooperatives, workers at large farms or factories, artisanal miners, as well as traders and companies who buy and sell fairtrade products.

Check which standards apply to whom. LINK

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Minimum Price and Premium database

When selling their products through Fairtrade, producers can rely on the safety net of the Fairtrade Minimum Price and will receive the additional Fairtrade Premium to invest in projects of their choice.

Look up prices and premiums for all products. LINK