| Type | Non-profit organization |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2003 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand |
| Key people | Cheryl Kernot, Chair |
| Employees | 8 (2006) |
| Website | www.fairtrade.com.au/ |
The Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand (FTAANZ) is a member-based advocacy organization that supports two systems of fair trade. The first (but not necessarily the most important) is the Australia and New Zealand member of FLO International, which unites 23 Fairtrade producer and labelling initiatives across Europe, Asia, Latin America, North America, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. The second, as a member, is the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), of over 450 world-wide members, to which FTAANZ is one. Fairtrade (one word) refers to FLO certified commodity products. Fair trade (two words) encompasses all fair trade products, including the trademarked Fairtrade commodities and other craft and commodities that are unable to join the aforementioned system.
Through its member base, and a small secretariat, the FTAANZ seeks to increase awareness of fair trade; help facilitate and coordinate fair trade activities; assist producers from developing countries, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, to access Australian and New Zealand markets; and establish a regional organisation to manage Fairtrade certification and labelling for products that have standards in place under the limited FLO system.
FTAANZ also endorses fair trade businesses who are primarily arisan craft-based and do not fall within the purview of the Fairtrade Labeling Organization structures. This endorsement is gained through adherence to the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) 10 standards of fair trade and offers opportunities for consumers to trust that the craft-styled products sold by businesses are authentically fair trade. Businesses become endorsed as a "Fair Trader of Australia".
The first products bearing the FLO International Fairtrade Certification Mark, which guarantees a better deal to disadvantaged producers in the developing world, were sold in Australia and New Zealand starting October 2003. Products bearing the mark are on sale in Australia and New Zealand: coffee, tea, chocolate and cocoa.
The first endorsed "Fair Traders of Australia" achieved their seal in early 2011.
FTAANZ is a not-for-private-profit membership based association, governed by an Executive Committee elected every year during FTAANZ's AGM. FTAANZ membership is open to any organisation interested and supportive of fair trade principles. FTAANZ membership includes development, social justice, environmental and human rights NGOs, businesses, alternative trade organisations, researchers and interested individuals.
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