Fort Lauderdale, Florida (October 14, 2010) - Fair Choice South America - a Non-Governmental Organization formed in alliance with Control Union Certifications - is unveiling its Social and Fair Trade Standard, “Fair Choice” at Expo East in Boston.

Fair Choice is the first fairtrade standard created in a Latin American country that takes in consideration local working and producing conditions, making its implementation suitable than other fairtrade standards that do not consider the particular characteristics of emerging countries.

The Program has been already implemented trough pilot projects in Europe, Asia and South America. With the opening of commercial frontiers, many developing countries such as Peru, are empowering their commercial relations (an example of this is the signing of the free trade protocol between USA and Peru), making this background favorable for the promotion of the Fair Choice Standard as a real bridge between producers, traders and consumers that assure the adequate distribution of profits and the minimum environmental impacts. The Expo East is a great opportunity to introduce the program to those interested in buying not only natural products but with the added value of contributing to the integration of a sustainable production chain based on preserving traditional knowledge of small farmers trough social, environmental and trading supportive practices. Expo East in Boston is the beginning of the promotion activities of Fair Choice Standard in the Americas.

CU Fair Choice is a guarantee that the enterprises are committed to sustainable development and improvement of social conditions, meeting the demands of conscious consumers, whose numbers are increasing in every country and thereby creating new market possibilities.

The planet’s present social and environmental context suggests the adoption of more specific certification tools for auditing social and environmental issues on certified companies, farms and producer groups. In order to be certified, enterprises must meet a minimum percentage of compliance of the criteria listed in this standard.

CU Fair Choice has developed its criteria under the following principles:

• Social Principles – Compliance with ILO conventions and national legislation; support to trade unions; equal benefits; improvement and development of education and surrounding communities; no discrimination and no compulsory work; labor safety and health
• Environmental Principles – Natural resources, water, waste, biodiversity management
• Economic Principles – Fair trade relationships; transparency; encouragement of social and environmental projects.

Purpose and Scope

The intent of the CU Fair Choice social and fair trade certification is to provide a standard based on international human rights norms and national labor laws that will protect and assure social and fair trade practices to all persons within a company’s scope of control and influence, which produces products or provides services for that specific company as well as its suppliers and contractors. It also includes requirements on health, safety and environment protection.

CU Fair Choice is verifiable through evidence–based processes. Its requirements apply to agricultural products (raw or processed) and demonstrate their production under good working and environmental conditions, reinforcing the image of a positive agriculture sector and promoting a recognizable market position. CU Fair Choice can be awarded to a producer organization, a contracting operator / Trader, and a Company / Industry.

Contact:
Jaime Castro Mendivil (511) 719-0400
Robert Demianew (954) 916-2667