navigation search it has been suggested that flo cert be merged into this article . discuss proposed since october 2016 . flo organizational structure fairtrade international flo 1 was established in 1997 and is an association of 3 producer networks 19 national labelling initiatives and 3 marketing organizations that promote and market the fairtrade certification mark in their countries 2 fairtrade labelling organizations exist in 18 european countries as well as in canada the united states japan australia and new zealand . 3 to ensure the transparency and the independence of the fairtrade certification and labelling system fairtrade international was divided in january 2004 into two independent organizations flo international develops and reviews fairtrade standards and assists producers in gaining and maintaining certification and in capitalizing on market opportunities on the fairtrade market . to ensure the transparency of the system the standards are developed and reviewed by the flo standards and policy committee in which flo members producer organizations traders and external experts participate . flo cert ensures that producers and traders comply with the flo fairtrade standards and that producers invest the benefits received through fairtrade in their development . operating independently from any other interests it follows the international iso standards for certification bodies iso 65 . in 2009 fair trade certified sales amounted to approximately 3.4 billion us 4.9 billion worldwide a 15 % increase from 2008 . 4 as of 2011 827 producer organizations in 58 developing countries were flo cert fairtrade certified . 4 flo also oversees national organizations in south africa the czech republic and korea . 3 contents 1 flo international 1.1 membership 1.2 mission 1.3 governance 2 structure 2.1 fairtrade standards 2.2 producer support 2.3 international fairtrade certification mark 3 references 4 external links 4.1 flo international members flo international edit fairtrade international flo type non profit organization industry product certification founded 2004 headquarters bonn germany key people molly harriss olson chair of the board products producer business development standards development website www.fairtrade.net fairtrade international flo is a non profit multi stakeholder association involving 25 member and associate member organizations labelling initiatives and producer networks traders and external experts . 5 the organization develops and reviews fair trade standards assists producers in gaining and maintaining fair trade certification and capitalizing on market opportunities . fairtrade international is one of the two organizations which resulted from the january 2004 split of fairtrade labelling organizations international into fairtrade international the standards setting and producer support unit and flo cert which inspects and certifies producer organizations and audits traders . membership edit the following fair trade labeling initiatives are fairtrade international members 6 fair trade association of australia and new zealand fairtrade sterreich fairtrade belgium transfair canada the czech fairtrade association marketing organization max havelaar danmark fairtrade estonia reilun kaupan edist misyhdistys association max havelaar france transfair deutschland fairtrade hong kong foundation marketing organization fairtrade mark ireland fairtrade italia transfair japan europe korea foundation marketing organization fairtrade latvia fairtrade lithuania transfair minka luxembourg comercio justo m xico associate member stichting max havelaar fairtrade max havelaar norge fair trade label south africa associate member asociaci n del sello de productos de comercio justo fairtrade sverige max havelaar foundation the fairtrade foundation these labeling initiatives were joined in 2007 by three fairtrade producer networks network of asian and pacific producers napp coordinadora latinoamericana y del caribe de peque os productores de comercio justo clac fairtrade africa mission edit fairtrade international s mission is to enable the sustainable development and empowerment of disadvantaged producers and workers in developing countries through fair trade certification by setting international fair trade standards ; facilitating and developing fair trade businesses ; supporting producers in making maximum use of the opportunities offered by fair trade certification ; and promoting the case for trade justice in debates on trade and development . flo is the only organization in the world that specializes in fair trade standard setting . citation needed governance edit fairtrade international flo is a membership based not for profit association under german law . its legal name is fairtrade labelling organizations international e.v. its membership is open to fairtrade labeling initiatives and producer networks . both producer networks and labeling initiatives hold regular assemblies to allow their members to discuss relevant common issues . these assemblies are followed by an annual general assembly of all members where issues such as membership and approval of annual accounts are discussed . members of the flo board of directors are also elected during general assemblies . the flo board of directors is composed of 5 labeling initiative representatives ; 4 producer network representatives with at least a member from latin america africa and asia ; 2 certified trader representatives ; 2 external board members usually consultants and field experts ; the flo board is primarily responsible for the strategic orientations of the organization its financial and risk management and relations with the organization s chief executive officer . the board also appoints members to the following committees the standards committee the finance committee the nominations committee structure edit fairtrade international is divided into three units standards sets and maintains fair trade standards finance and central services ensures coordinated communications finance human resources fundraising and it services producer services and relations supports producers in gaining and maintaining fair trade certification and capitalizing on market opportunities fairtrade standards edit given the development focus of fair trade related standards contain minimum requirements that all producer organisations must meet to become certified as well as progress requirements in which producers must demonstrate improvements over time . there are two types of fair trade standards for disadvantaged vague producers standards for small farmers organizations and for hired labor situations . small farmers organization standards include requirements for democratic decision making ensuring that producers have a say in how the fair trade premiums are invested etc. they also include requirements for capacity building and economic strengthening of the organization . hired labour situation standards seek to ensure that employees receive decent vague wages and may join unions and bargain collectively . fairtrade certified plantations must also ensure that there is no forced or child labour and that health and safety requirements are met . in a hired labor situation fair trade standards require a joint body to be set up with representatives from both management and employees . this joint body decides on how fairtrade premiums will be spent to benefit plantation employees . for some products such as coffee only fair trade standards for small farmers organizations are applicable . for others such as tea both small farmers organizations and plantations can be certified . fair trade standards and procedures are approved by the flo standards committee an external committee comprising all flo stakeholders labeling initiatives producers and traders and external experts . fair trade standards are set in accordance to the requirements of the iseal code of good practice in standards setting and are in addition the result of an extensive consultation process involving a variety of stakeholders producers traders external experts inspectors certification staff etc. 7 producer support edit the producer services and relations unit psr supports producers in gaining and maintaining fair trade certification and capitalizing on market opportunities . furthermore psr assists producer organizations on issues ranging from encouraging democratic development to finding markets for their products . these services are offered via regular visits to producer organizations and the work of approximately 40 liaison officers who cover 50 producer countries and offer support locally to fair trade producers . 8 international fairtrade certification mark edit main article international fairtrade certification mark the fairtrade mark is an international independent consumer mark which appears on products as a guarantee that producers and traders have met fair trade standards . the fairtrade mark is owned and protected by flo on behalf of its 25 member and associate member labeling initiatives and producer networks . for a product to carry the fairtrade mark it must come from flo cert inspected and certified producer organizations . the crops must be grown and harvested in accordance with the international fairtrade standards set by fairtrade international . the supply chain is also monitored by flo cert to ensure the integrity of labelled products . only authorized licensees can use the fairtrade mark on their products . the fairtrade mark shows a cheering person representing both the producers celebrating a fair deal through fair trade and the consumers who know they are making a positive difference through the purchase of fair trade products . references edit fairtrade international 2011 . home page . url accessed on august 23 2011 . . fairtrade international 2011 . our members . url accessed on august 23 2011 . a b fairtrade international 2011 . fairtrade labelling initiatives . url accessed on august 24 2011 . a b fairtrade international 2011 . facts and figures . url accessed on august 24 2011 . fairtrade international 2011 . our members . url accessed on august 24 2011 . fairtrade international 2011 . fairtrade labelling initiatives.url accessed on august 24 2011 . fairtrade international 2011 . standard setting . url accessed on february 21 2011 . fairtrade international 2011 . liaison officers . url accessed on february 21 2011 . external links edit flo international website flo cert gmbh website irft india website flo international members edit network of asian producers fairtrade africa latin american and caribbean network of small fair trade producers clac transfair sterreich max havelaar belgique transfair canada association max havelaar france max havelaar danmark transfair deutschland the fairtrade foundation uk transfair italia fairtrade ireland transfair minka luxembourg stichting max havelaar fairtrade max havelaar norge reilun kaupan edist misyhdistys ry r ttvisem rkt max havelaar stiftung schweiz fair trade association of australia & new zealand australia site fair trade association of australia & new zealand new zealand site asociaci n del sello de productos de comercio justo spain comercio justo m xico associate member fairtrade estonia fairtrade latvia fairtrade lithuania the czech fairtrade association v t e fair trade core topics history of fair trade fairtrade certification fair trade and politics fair trade impact studies fair trade debate alternative trading organization trade justice trade justice movement sweatshops body shopping worldshop federations fairtrade labelling organizations international world fair trade organization network of european worldshops european fair trade association fine fair trade federation international resources for fairer trade irft certification fair trade certification flo international standard setting and producer support flo cert inspection & certification international fairtrade certification mark fair trade certified mark labeling initiatives asociaci n del sello de productos de comercio justo fair trade association of australia and new zealand fairtrade mark ireland the fairtrade foundation association max havelaar france stichting max havelaar max havelaar stiftung switzerland fairtrade canada fair trade usa formerly transfair usa alternative trading organizations alter eco artisans du monde caf direct ctm altromercato divine chocolate equal exchange equal exchange trading rainforest alliance gepa the fair trade company handcrafting justice serrv international traidcraft twin trading ten thousand villages veja sneakers campaigns fairtrade town list of fairtrade settlements fairtrade fortnight make trade fair no sweat world fair trade day media black gold 2006 film brewing justice book category fair trade v t e social and environmental accountability ethics and principles aarhus convention corporate accountability behaviour social responsibility ethical banking ethical code extended producer responsibility organizational ethics organizational justice principles for responsible investment social responsibility stakeholder theory sullivan principles transparency behavioral social un global compact social accounting double bottom line ethical positioning index higg index impact assessment environmental equality social iso 26000 genuine progress indicator ohsas 18001 performance indicator sa8000 social return on investment whole life cost environmental accounting carbon accounting eco management and audit scheme emission inventory environmental full cost accounting impact assessment management system profit and loss account iso 14000 iso 14031 1999 life cycle assessment pollutant release and transfer register sustainability accounting measurement metrics and indices standards and certification supply chain toxics release inventory triple bottom line reporting global reporting