Local Fair Trade in France: the Max Havelaar projects

The best-known fair trade label, Fairtrade, does not currently certify ‘North-North’ fair trade products, except in France. Since 5 May 2021, Max Havelaar has been experimenting with extending its mission to fair trade in local products by targeting the wheat sector in the Gers and the milk sector in Charentes and Poitou. 

Max Havelaar uses a method of setting the guaranteed price according to the territory and a quantified income target. “We have used the lessons learnt from our historical sectors to create these new specifications adapted to France, in dialogue with the producers,” says Blaise Desbordes, CEO of Max Havelaar France.

The traditional collective premium for fair trade, automatic eligibility in the event of conversion to organic farming, and specifications compatible with the High Environmental Value (HEV) are tools for supporting sustainable agriculture. The territorial approach and the eligibility of young people setting up in agriculture will contribute to maintaining agricultural activity in areas in decline. The Fairtrade logo may be used on products with a distinctive Northern reference.

Other pilot projects are planned in Spain and Italy for crops such as tomatoes and oranges.

The main guarantees of the Fairtrade/Max Havelaar standard for the wheat and milk sectors in France

For producers	• A minimum price paid to farmers and defined on the basis of cost prices • A premium financed by all the downstream links of the producer organisation, managed collectively by the producers and dedicated to social projects and the ecological transition • Commitment of the entire sector to multi-year contracts
To improve the impact of the commitment of economic operators along the fair trade value chain	• Certification for vulnerable farmers in vulnerable areas • Certification for young farmers • Certification designed to support the ecological transition • Certification for collectively organised farmers
Support of the collective organisation to producers	• Support to achieve certification requirements • Training in more sustainable practices
For the environment and human health	• Monitoring compliance with the environmental regulatory framework • Criteria linked to the High Environmental Value certification – HVE • Controlling the use of plant protection products • Evolving requirements on the ecological transition markers (use of phytosanitary products, fertilisation, storage of livestock effluents, use of water, soil cover, maintenance of biodiversity areas, animal feed, animal welfare, etc.)

 Read more about ‘Local fair trade in Belgium and Europe’ in the study of the Trade for Development Centre (Enabel): https://www.tdc-enabel.be/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Local-Fair-Trade-in-Belgium-and-Europe.pdf