The Fair Trade Certified label pictured on product packaging from pact
Fair Trade Certification is designed to help companies commit to fair standards for workers and our planet while clearly and accurately communicating their impact. Transparency, accountability, and third-party verification have always been core to our model, and we are proud to share that our organization is aligned with upcoming EmpCo criteria para etiquetas de sostenibilidad.
La Directiva para empoderar a los consumidores para la transición ecológica de la Unión Europea, también conocida como la Directiva EmpCo, modifica la Directiva sobre prácticas comerciales desleales para garantizar que las empresas no hagan afirmaciones falsas sobre su impacto social y ambiental. La directiva entrará en vigor el 27 de septiembreth, 2026.
How the EmpCo Directive Makes Change:
- La directiva prohíbe el uso de sellos de sostenibilidad que no sigan programas de certificación elegibles o que no hayan sido establecidos por organismos públicos. Define qué tipos de programas están aprobados, incluida la verificación de terceros.
- The directive prohibits the use of vague or misleading sustainability claims. This means that companies cannot exaggerate positive impact, misreport scope, or claim that that a product is “sustainable” without verification.
How Fair Trade Certified™ meets EmpCo Requirements
Certificación independiente y verificación de terceros
Fair Trade USA utilizes a third-party certification system to ensure fair oversight and verification of our standards. Compliance is monitored through rigorous audits which are conducted by independent 3rd party auditors, and certificates are only issued once non-conformities are closed. Fair Trade USA is also a code-compliant member of ISEAL and is aligned with ISEAL’s credibility principles and Code of Good Practice. This provides “recognized excellent performance” as defined in the Directive.
Gobernanza experta y consulta a las partes interesadas
Los estándares Fair Trade Certified están regidos por un Comité de Estándares independiente, lo que garantiza que los criterios sean técnicamente sólidos, creíbles y pertinentes para el contexto y alcance respectivos en los que operamos. El desarrollo de estándares, las revisiones y cualquier otra actualización de nuestro modelo se realizan en consulta con las partes interesadas clave, incluidos los productores globales, cumpliendo con el impulso de la Directiva en favor de criterios de sostenibilidad inclusivos y pertinentes.
Control of Claims/Labels and Public Accountability
Fair Trade USA enforces clear procedures for label and claim use, preventing generic environmental claims that the directive seeks to ban. Every product with the Fair Trade Certified label has been grown, harvested, and/or crafted against our standards and will be continuously monitored in accordance with our program. We also maintain an allegation and complaint system, allowing program participants including workers on certified farms, factories, and fisheries to report misuse. This is a key transparency feature required for credible certification schemes.
Credibilidad y cumplimiento continuos
As regulations and consumer expectations continue to evolve, companies increasingly need trusted systems that support transparent sourcing and credible sustainability claims. Fair Trade USA’s certification model helps connect responsible business practices with measurable impact for producer communities around the world. Through independent verification, strong standards, and compliance with directives like EmpCo, we work to support a more transparent and equitable global marketplace.
Learn more about Fair Trade USA’s standards and certification approach on our Standards page.