www.isealalliance.org creating a world where environmental sustainability and social justice are the...
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www.isealalliance.org
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
www.isealalliance.org
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 CouncilInternational Federation of
Organic Agriculture Movements
Marine Aquarium Council Marine Stewardship Council Rainforest Alliance Social Accountability International
www.isealalliance.org
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)
www.isealalliance.org
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.
www.isealalliance.org
Creating a world where environmental sustainability
and social justice are the normal conditions of business
Legitimacy & Credibility of Voluntary Standards
ConformityAssessment
StandardSettingProcess
VerifiableImpacts
No More TradeRestrictive than
Necessary to fulfilLegitimate Objectives
www.isealalliance.org
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
www.isealalliance.org
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 other’s standards as sufficient to meet their respective social and environmental requirements.
FLO(social)
ISEAL Accessibility NetworkTo make certification more accessiblefor producer groups, extension, certification bodies, traders ...through e.g. quality management systems, local interpretationsof standards ...
www.isealalliance.org
Creating a world where environmental sustainability
and social justice are the normal conditions of business
FSC’s 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
www.isealalliance.org
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
www.isealalliance.org
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
www.isealalliance.org
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).
www.isealalliance.org
Creating a world where environmental sustainability
and social justice are the normal conditions of business
Thank You
www.isealalliance.org