TheEuropean Fair Trade Association (EFTA) is a Dutch association established informally in 1987.[1] It gained formal status in 1990. It regroups 11fair trade importers in 9European countries:Austria,Belgium,France,Germany,Italy,Netherlands,Spain,Switzerland and theUnited Kingdom. EFTA members includeCtm altromercato,Gepa3 Fair Handelshaus andTraidcraft. EFTA's aim is to support its member organizations in their work and encourage cooperation and coordination.
Fair trade importing organizations buy food andhandicrafts from disadvantaged producers indeveloping countries and aim to improve market access and strengthen producer organizations. EFTA members generally followFairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO) Standards, to which additional standards may be added with the aim of providing special support to particular target groups (women, ethnic minorities, politically persecuted, etc.). In Europe, they sell their products throughworldshops, local groups, wholesalers and mail order catalogues. Fair trade importing organizations also play an important role in awareness raising and in educating consumers and public authorities on fair trade andtrade justice issues.
EFTA is based inCulemborg, in the Netherlands, with an office inBolzano in northern Italy.[2]
A three-year (2007–2010) project led by EFTA to promote action for Fair TradePublic Procurement (FTPP) aimed to encourage public authorities within theEuropean Union to systematically include fair trade criteria in their publictenders.[3]
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