Title: Environmental and social standards, certification and labelling for cash crops /
Authors: Dankers, Cora.; Liu, Pascal.; Lawrence, Thorgeir.; Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.; Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Publisher: Raw Materials, Tropical and Horticultural Products Service, Commodity and Trade Division, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,
Year: 2003
Subjects: Rainforest Alliance.; Ethical Trading Initiative.; International Organization for Standardization.; Euro-Retailer Produce Working Group.; Cash crops Certification.; Cash crops Labeling.; Sustainable agriculture; Industrial safety Standards.
Abstract: This publication discusses stakeholder involvement, the standard-setting process, verification methods, the relationship with the World Trade Organization agreements and the potential role of governments. Twenty-two case studies on the impact of these standards and certification programs on production costs and revenues for farmers in developing countries are presented, in addition to the latest data available on the markets for labeled bananas, coffee, tea and citrus. Workplace safety and environmental sustainability can be promoted by agreed standards, certification and labelling. Relevant standards for cash crops in developing countries are reviewed here, including organic agriculture, fair-trade labelling, Social Accountability-8000, the Rainforest Alliance's Sustainable Agriculture Programme, the Ethical Trading Initiative, ISO-14001 and EurepGap. The origins of these initiatives, their scope and certification system are explored.--Publisher's description.
Contents: Introduction -- A bit of history -- The concepts of standards, certification and labelling -- Overview of existing standards and certification programmes -- Production and markets -- Impact assessment of social and environmental certification -- The WTO and environmental and social standards, certification and labelling -- Continuing debates.