Who checks to see if FairMail complies with the criteria for Fair Trade?
This checking is done by the Dutch Association of World Shops (LVWW). FairMail chose for this certification because it has the strictest and best ethically structured procedure (which is reflected in the price) to recognize providers of “non food” Fair Trade products. There are other certifications schemes including the well known “FairTrade mark” but they only certify agricultural products like cotton, coffee and bananas (and now soccer balls!). Other certifying organizations like the WFTO (World Fair Trade Organization) have softer controlling mechanisms of self-inspection. Given all the options the LVVWW sets the strictest guidelines to make sure we are truly Fair Trade. Plus to make sure we carry on complying an inspector actually comes to Peru and India to check our fair-trade application at the start and every 3 years afterwards.
