Ten Principles of Fair Trade

The World Fair Trade organization has outlined ten key principles that Fair Trade Organizations must follow in their day-to-day work and carries out monitoring to ensure these principles are upheld:

Creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged producers - Fair Trade is a strategy for poverty alleviation and sustainable development. Its purpose is to create opportunities for producers who have been economically disadvantaged or marginalized by the conventional trading system.

Transparency and Accountability - Fair Trade involves transparent management and commercial relationships that deal fairly with trading partners.

Capacity Building - Fair Trade is a means to develop producers' independence. Fair Trade relationships provide continuity, allowing producers can improve their management skills and access to new markets.  

Promoting Fair Trade - Fair Trade Organizations raise awareness of Fair Trade and the possibility of greater justice in world trade.

Payment of a Fair Price - A fair price is one that has been agreed to dialogue and participation. It covers not only the cost of production but enables production that is socially just and environmentally sound. 

Gender Equality - Fair Trade means that women's work is properly valued and rewarded according to the principle of equal pay for equal work by women and men. 

Working Conditions - Fair Trade means a safe and healthy working environment for producers.

Child Labor - Fair Trade Organizations respect the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as local laws and social norms to ensure that the participation of children (if any) in production processes does not adversely affect their well-being, security, educational requirements and need for play.

The Environment - Fair Trade actively encourages better environmental practices and the application of responsible methods of production.

Trade Relations - Fair Trade Organizations trade with concern for the social, economic and environmental well-being of marginalized small producers and do not maximize profit at their expense. They maintain long-term relationships based on solidarity, trust and mutual respect.