Audits
The Fairtrade certification process for producers begins with a written application to FLO-CERT from the producer organisation, often with the support of a trading partner. If the application is accepted, the organisation will be physically audited against Fairtrade standards by a regionally-based FLO-CERT auditor.
A full Fairtrade audit can last from four days for a small producer organisation and up to six or seven weeks for the largest co-operatives. The time the auditor spends on the ground depends on the size of the producer organisation, its complexity, and the number of certified products it is seeking to sell.
The inspector’s report is then considered by the FLO-CERT Certification Committee which takes the final decision on whether or not to certify. If successful, producers are issued with a certificate.
After they receive their initial Fairtrade certification, producers are inspected on-site on an annual basis. In some circumstances, where organisations have demonstrated excellent compliance over many years, they may qualify for a ‘desk-top’ review as part of a three-year inspection cycle.
Cost of certification
The cost of certification is dependent on the number of working days required to inspect the producer group. Following an audit, a report is sent to FLO-CERT for evaluation. The decision to certify is taken by a specialised certifier, who is supervised by an independent certification committee.
ISO 65 certification
FLO-CERT is ISO 65 certified. ISO 65 is the leading, internationally recognised quality norm for bodies operating a product certification system. FLO-CERT follows the ISO 65 norm in all its certification operations. ISO 65 certification guarantees that:
- A quality management system is in place
- There is transparency in all processes
- There is independence in the certification decision making
- FLO-CERT is checked by an independent third party to ensure compliance with ISO 65 rules.
Find out more
For more information about Fairtrade certification visit the website of FLO-CERT: www.flo-cert.net