The Fair Trade Advocacy Office (FTAO) welcomes the European Commission’s efforts to enhance farmers' position within the agri-food supply chain. In particular, the proposal to regulate the use of terms like ‘fair’ and ‘equitable’ has the potential to promote fair remuneration and prevent misleading claims. However, the FTAO expresses concerns that setting an EU-wide definition below the standards already upheld by the Fair Trade Movement could have unintended consequences, allowing lower-standard operators to use these terms, misleading consumers, and undermining businesses committed to higher ethical practices.

The Fair Trade Movement has already established a widely recognised definition of ‘fair trade’ through the International Fair Trade Charter, supported by over 250 organisations. The FTAO urges EU policymakers to align with this vision and ensure consistency with existing legislative frameworks in France, Belgium, and Spain.

In this publication, the FTAO presents key recommendations to the European Parliament's AGRI Committee, advocating for an inclusive and robust definition of fairness in trade that applies equally to both EU and imported products. Additionally, the FTAO calls for greater clarity in the proposed regulation and the integration of meaningful support measures to drive systemic change in the food supply chain.

Read the full position here.