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Fairtrade Standard for Small-scale Producer Organisations

The Fairtrade Standard for Small-scale Producer Organisations applies to small-scale farming organisations that supply Fairtrade products.

Principles underlying this Standard

Members must be small-scale producers. The majority of the members of the organisation must be smallholders who don’t depend on hired workers all the time, but run their farm mainly by using their own and their family’s labour.

Democracy. All members have a voice and vote in the decision-making process of the organisation. Members also decide collectively how to use the Fairtrade Premium to best suit their needs.

Enabling strong producer organisations. The Standard provides a framework for small-scale producers to build resilient and inclusive organisations, improve their farming performance, and generate more benefits for their members and their communities

Download the Standard for Small-scale Producer Organisations EN ES FR PT

It applies to all Fairtrade Small-scale Producer Organisations as of 1 July 2019. For organisations certified before this date, transition periods apply as specified in the Standard. This version supersedes all previous versions.

Supporting documents

Standard for Contract Production

This standard is designed for small-scale producers who are not yet democratically organised. As a temporary measure, they can join Fairtrade if they have a partnership with an organisation, such as an exporter or a civil society organisation, that will assist them in forming an independent organisation. The Contract Production Standard primarily applies to cocoa in the Pacific region, rice and cotton in India, and cotton and dried fruit in Pakistan. It is also extended to selected crops grown in rotation with cotton and rice in India and Pakistan.

Download the Contract Production Standard
EN | ES | FR

It applies to all contract production operators certified by Fairtrade and is valid from 1 March 2014. It came into force on 1 April 2014 and is applied to all audits from that date onward. This version supersedes all previous versions.

Supporting documents Contract Production Standard

  • Interpretation note EN
  • Main standard changes EN
  • Fairtrade development plan list of ideas EN

Product-specific standards

Additional Standards apply to organisations supplying particular products and to the companies that trade with them. These work in combination with main Standards for Small-scale Producer Organisations or Contract Production, and the Trader Standard which outlines the terms of trade.

  • Cane sugar for small-scale producer organisations

  • Cereals for small-scale producer organisations and contract production

  • Cocoa for small-scale producer organisations and contract production

  • Coffee for small scale producer organisations

  • Cotton and other fibre crops for small-scale producer organisations and contract production

  • Fresh fruit for small-scale producer organisations

  • Fresh vegetables for small-scale producer organisations and contract production.

  • Herbs, herbal teas and spices for small-scale producer organisations and contract production

  • Honey for small-scale producer organisations

  • Nuts for small-scale producer organisations and contract production

  • Oilseeds and oleaginous fruit for small-scale producer organisations and contract production

  • Prepared and preserved fruit and vegetables for small-scale producer organisations and contract production

  • Tea for small-scale producer organisations

Secondary products

Secondary products and their derivatives have been included in the scope of Fairtrade certification. For further information please see the explanatory note for secondary Fairtrade products and the list of secondary Fairtrade products.

Are you looking for previous standard versions or additional documents? Please contact us.