Approximately 510 partner organizations in the Southern hemisphere are certified in accordance with the international standards of fair trade (FLO). As a result, more than 1'000'000 families benefit from improved working and living conditions and are able to carry out a variety of projects.

Selection and monitoring

Producer organizations interested in exporting in compliance with Max Havelaar terms and conditions complete a questionnaire. An on-site inspection follows the application. Experts evaluate product quality, The international network FLO (Fairtrade Labelling Organizations) assesses supporting documentation and approves certification. Annual inspections verify ongoing compliance with standards of fair trade.

Excerpt from the standards

• Max Havelaar products derive from small farming organizations with a democratic structure or from farms whose owners comply with minimum legal requirements in terms of wages or fringe benefits.
• Farmer families and workers themselves decide on the use of the fair-trade-premium.
• Producer organizations and farms have an efficient structure to deal with exports.
• They develop a sustainable development process and foster environment-friendly growing and processing methods.

In turn, producers from the South receive stable prices from fair trade partners in the North to cover costs and a fair-trade-premium. The objective is to foster long-term trade relations.