Guide to Producer Certification

Steps to Fair Trade certification:

1. Review FLO's Fair Trade standards for your product.

Note: the list of products below reflects what TransFair USA currently certifies in the US. Fair Trade standards for products certified worldwide are available on FLO's website.

Bananas(small producers)
Bananas (hired labor)
Cocoa (small producers)
Coffee (small producers)
Fresh Fruit (small producers)
Fresh Fruit (hired labor)
Rice (small producers)
Sugar (small producers)
Tea (small producers)
Tea (hired labor)
Herbs and Spices (small producers)


2. If your organization meets these standards, contact FLO at certification@fairtrade.net and submit the following information:

• Type of organization (e.g. association, cooperative, company, etc.)
• Number of members and/or workers in your organization and how they participate in decision making processes
• How and where you export
• Product type/variety and quantity available for export
• Organic certification (if applicable)

3. If FLO determines that your organization meets basic criteria, they will send you a questionnaire to fill out and return.

4. Following a thorough evaluation of the questionnaire, FLO may make an initial inspection visit.

5. Following the inspection, FLO's Certification Committee reviews the inspection report and the inspector’s recommendation, and determines whether or not the organization qualifies for certification.

6. If you are eligible, FLO will draw up a contract to formalize the certification of your organization. This contract is renewed with a yearly inspection.

Fee for Certification
After 15 years of providing producer certification at no cost, FLO began charging producers for inspection early in 2004. This change is due to rapid growth in demand from both industry and producers, and has enabled FLO to expand the number of farms it inspects and adds to the Fair Trade register. A scholarship fund is available for producer groups unable to pay the fee. The producer representatives on the FLO board unanimously approved the fee model, and there is widespread support among producer partners.

Under the previous system, producers needed a buyer in order to be inspected. Certification fees make it possible for more producer groups to join the Fair Trade community and to sell to Fair Trade markets. Fair Trade Certification is a sound business investment that empowers producers around the world. Applicants that lack the initial capital to make this investment may apply for a scholarship. Please email your inquiry to: producercertification@transfairusa.org. The vast majority of applicants make the investment with their own funds, or receive financial assistance from a commercial partner.

Certification fee structure>