FLO-CERT
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| FLO-Cert GmbH | |
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| Type | Limited company |
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| Founded | 2004 |
| Headquarters | Bonn, Germany |
| Key people | Rudiger Meyer, Managing Director |
| Industry | Product certification |
| Products | Inspection, Certification, Trade Audit |
| Website | www.flo-cert.net |
FLO-CERT GmbH is the largest inspection and certification body for labelled Fairtrade. It is one of the two organizations which resulted from the January 2004 split of Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International.
FLO-CERT today inspects and certifies approximately 600 producer organizations in more than 50 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, encompassing approximately one million and a half farmers and workers.
Operating independently from any other interests, it follows the international ISO standards for product certification bodies (ISO 65).
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[edit] Producer certification
FLO-CERT ensures that producers comply with the FLO International Fairtrade Standards and that producers invest the benefits received through Fairtrade in their development.
FLO-CERT works with a network of 54 independent inspectors that regularly visit all producer organizations and report back to FLO-CERT. Certification decisions are then taken by a Certification Committee, comprised of stakeholders from producers, traders, national labelling organisations and external experts. An Appeals Committee handles all appeals.
[edit] Trade certification
FLO-CERT has also developed a trade auditing system to monitor traders' and retailers' compliance with Fairtrade standards. The system was created to check that every Fairtrade labelled product sold to a consumer has indeed been produced by a certified producer organization which has been paid the Fairtrade price. A network of 18 inspectors conduct trade certification, supported by staff at FLO-CERT headquarters in Bonn. Similarly to producer certification, trade certification decisions are taken by an independent Certification Committee and an Appeals Committee handles all appeals.
[edit] ISO 65 certification
FLO-CERT follows international ISO standards for certification bodies (ISO 65). The certification confirms an organization meets the following criteria:
- Independence: a certification body must be independent of any external pressure being able to influence a certification decision.
- Transparency: the evaluation and certification processes must be transparent and explained to all parties before inspection.
- Quality: certification decisions can only be consistent and suitable if there are proper internal control mechanisms. The existence of a quality control system, for example, supported by regular internal audits, is essential to identify problems and continuously improve service.
- Equality: all producers must be treated the same way.
[edit] See also
| Fair trade topics | Fair trade | History of Fair trade | Fairtrade certification | Fair trade and politics | Fair trade impact studies | Criticism of Fair trade | Alternative trading organization | Trade justice | Worldshop |
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| Federations | Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International | International Fair Trade Association | Network of European Worldshops | European Fair Trade Association | FINE | Fair Trade Federation |
| Campaigns | Fairtrade Town | Fairtrade fortnight | Make Trade Fair | World Fair Trade Day |
| Certification | FLO International (standard-setting) | FLO-CERT (inspection & certification) | International Fairtrade Certification Mark | Fair Trade Certified Mark |
| Fairtrade labelling initiatives | Asociación del Sello de Productos de Comercio Justo | Comercio Justo México | Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand | Fairtrade Österreich | Fairtrade Ireland | The Fairtrade Foundation | Max Havelaar Belgique | Association Max Havelaar France | Max Havelaar Danmark | Stichting Max Havelaar | Fairtrade Max Havelaar Norge | Max Havelaar-Stiftung (Schweiz) | Reilun kaupan edistämisyhdistys | Rättvisemärkt | TransFair Canada | TransFair Deutschland | TransFair Italia | TransFair Japan | TransFair-Minka Luxembourg | TransFair USA |
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| ATOs | AgroFair | Alter Eco | Artisans du Monde | Cafédirect | Claro Fair Trade | Ctm altromercato | Day Chocolate Company | Equal Exchange | Equita | El Puente | EZA Fairer Handel | Fair Trade Original | Gepa3 Fair Handelshaus | Ideas | Intermon Oxfam | La Siembra | Oxfam-Magasins du monde | Oxfam Trading | Oxfam-Wereldwinkels | SERRV International | Solidar'Monde | Traidcraft | Twin Trading | Ten Thousand Villages |
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