1. Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business www.isealalliance.org How do you make a label credible? Green Feast 12 March, 2008

2. www.isealalliance.org Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business Labels and Sustainable Food >Labels also exist or are emerging in numerous other sectors –Forest products –Tourism –Mining –Aquarium fish –Cotton and textiles –Biofuels

3. www.isealalliance.org Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business What’s Behind a Credible Label? >A standard >An multi-stakeholder organisation that is responsible for the standard >An open, transparent consultation process that defines what is in the standard >A 3 rd party verification or certification scheme for proving conformity with the standard >A chain of custody programme >A monitoring and evaluation programme >A Certification or Trademark Policy that prevents misuse of the label

4. www.isealalliance.org Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business Credibility Applies Throughout the Certification Process... Setting Standards Implementing Certification Monitoring & Evolving

5. www.isealalliance.org Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business … & Along the Implementation Chain StandardsCertifier Accreditation Body Retailer Consumer Producer Label Buyer/ Manufacturer Supply Chain stakeholders

6. www.isealalliance.org 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

7. www.isealalliance.org Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business Setting Standards: Elements of Good Practice >Clear objectives >Internationally defined >Locally adaptable >Based on law (WTO) & best practice (ISO & ISEAL) >Clear and consistent procedures >Easily accessible >Stakeholder owned >Open and transparent processes Credible Standards

8. www.isealalliance.org Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business Setting Standards: Codifying Good Practice >Developed in 2004 (due for revision 2008) >Builds on WTO TBT Agreement Annex 3 and ISO Guide 59. >Additional requirements specific to social and environmental standards: –Balanced stakeholder engagement. –Open to all interested parties, including governments. –Standards are made freely available. >Compliance is an ISEAL Membership Requirement >www.isealalliance.org/codewww.isealalliance.org/code ISEAL Code of Good Practice

9. www.isealalliance.org Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business References to ISEAL Code of Good Practice >FAO Guidelines on Ecolabelling of Marine Fishery Products (2005) >World Bank-WWF Alliance criteria for assessing forest certification schemes (2006) >European Parliament resolution of 13 March 2007 on corporate social responsibility “Compliance with the ISEAL Code of Good Practice gives a clear sign to both governments and industry that these initiatives are the leaders in the field, backed by credible standards and capable of delivering genuine social and environmental change.” Richard Howitt, MEP, Spokesperson for the European Parliament on Corporate Social Responsibility

10. www.isealalliance.org Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business ISEAL Alliance Full Members in compliance with Code of Good Practice for Setting Social and Environmental Standards: 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

11. Creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business www.isealalliance.org Thank you Lucy Glover Communications Manager lucy@isealalliance.org www.isealalliance.org