Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business Private standards and their implications for market access, development, WTO/trade rules UNCTAD – SPS committee information session Geneva, June 2007 Elizabeth Guttenstein

Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business ISEAL Alliance Members Fairtrade Labelling Organizations (FLO) International Forest Stewardship Council International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements Marine Aquarium Council Marine Stewardship Council Rainforest Alliance Social Accountability International

Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business ISEAL Member Standards & the WTO >Are Voluntary. >Address Social and Environmental issues. >Look at guidance from Technical Barriers to Trade TBT Agreement Annex 3 – Code of Good Practice. >ISEAL Member Standards are non-product related Process and Production Measures (npr PPM)

Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business The ISEAL Code of Good Practice for Setting Social and Environmental Standards >Consistent with TBT Annex 3 principles and with ISO Guide 59. >With adaptations for Social and Environmental Needs (e.g. Processes). >Requires use of International Standards as basis for national or regional ones. >Compliance is an ISEAL Membership Condition.

Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business Legitimacy & Credibility of Voluntary Standards Conformity Assessment Standard Setting Process Verifiable Impacts No More Trade Restrictive than Necessary to fulfil Legitimate Objectives

Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business Private Standards & Market Access >USD 50 billion... Is the estimated market share of ISEAL Alliance Members certified products. Annual growth rates average 20%. >During 2005 consumers purchased Euro 1.1 billion worth of fairtrade (FLO) labelled products creating a conservative estimated Euro 100 million in additional income for certified producer groups. >FLO Producer Certification Fund to help small farmer organisations pay for their fairtrade certification. Certified charcoal in Atlanta (US) trade fair © FSC

Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business How ISEAL & Members address Market Access FLO & IFOAM mutually recognise compliance with each others standards as sufficient to meet their respective social and environmental requirements. FLO (social) ISEAL Accessibility Network To make certification more accessible for producer groups, extension, certification bodies, traders... through e.g. quality management systems, local interpretations of standards...

Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business FSCs 3 chamber approach to membership ensures voting structures: equally represent economic, environmental and social interests weigh in favour of southern stakeholders to ensure adequate developing country representation. Development is having your voice heard on a par with others Woman working in FSC certified community furniture enterprise, Ixtlan (Mexico) © FSC

Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business Fairtrade premiums enable: >Technical assistance for building infrastructure to improve production. >Communications systems, and collectively-owned transport and processing equipment. >Better health care and education. >Technical training and skill diversification for co-operative members and their families. Development is strengthening communities Free worker housing, a clinic and a school at Selva Negra RA certified coffee farm © J. Labozzetta, Rainforest Alliance

Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business Social Accountability International (SAI) programme Improving Workers Rights through Voluntary Workplace Standards >train workers in the use of corporate codes of conduct to avail themselves of their rights in the workplace. >strengthen the capacity of trade union leaders through study circles. Development is empowering individuals

Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business The ISEAL Code & Development >Define and implement standard-setting and revision processes that are open, balanced and transparent (arts. 5.1 and 5.6). >Provide a meaningful voice to those directly affected by the standard in its development (art. 7.2). >Facilitate the access and relative influence of disadvantaged groups (art. 7.4). >Make the standard available free of charge (art. 5.7).

Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business Thank You