European Fair Trade Association

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The European Fair Trade Association is a Dutch association established in 1990. It regroups 11 fair trade importers in 9 European countries: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. EFTA members include Ctm altromercato, Gepa3 Fair Handelshaus and Traidcraft. EFTA's aim is to support its member organizations in their work and encourage cooperation and coordination.

Fair trade importing organizations buy food and handicrafts from disadvantaged producers in developing countries and aim at improving market access and strengthening producer organizations. EFTA members generally follow FLO Standards, to which additional standards may be added with the aim of providing special support to particular target groups (women, ethnic minorities, politically persecuted, etc). In Europe, they sell their products through Worldshops, local groups, wholesalers and mail order catalogues. Fair trade importing organizations also play an important role in awareness raising and in educating consumers and public authorities on fair trade and trade justice issues.

[edit] See also

Fair trade topics	Fair trade \| History of fair trade \| Fairtrade certification \| Fair trade and politics \| Fair trade impact studies \| Fair trade debate \| Alternative trading organization \| Trade justice \| Worldshop \| Black Gold (film) \| One Cup (film)
Federations	Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International \| International Fair Trade Association \| Network of European Worldshops \| European Fair Trade Association \| FINE \| Fair Trade Federation
Certification	FLO International (standard-setting & producer support) \| FLO-CERT (inspection & certification) \| International Fairtrade Certification Mark \| Fair Trade Certified Mark
Campaigns	Fairtrade Town \| List of Fairtrade settlements \| Fairtrade fortnight \| Make Trade Fair \| World Fair Trade Day