Fairtrade International (FLO) announced 3 important steps for how it will operate in the U.S. market given the January 1 split of Fair Trade USA from FLO’s system:
- FLO will create a legal presence in the USA by early April to facilitate use of the international FAIRTRADE Mark in the market there.
- In parallel, FLO will work with stakeholders to design and build an organizational structure which will reflect the needs of the USA market, featuring appropriate structure, good governance, accountability and a strong voice for Fair Trade in the USA. FLO typically calls such structures marketing organizations, or labeling initiatives.
- In 2012-13, while the operating model is being established, FLO member organization Fairtrade Canada will continue to assist companies who would like to remain part of the global Fairtrade system.
These steps follow the departure of FTUSA from the FLO system as of January 1, 2012. FLO intends to compete respectfully with FTUSA and other Fair Trade models.
More at FLO news post.
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