Wales Celebrates Its Second Year As A Fair Trade Nation

Fair Trade supporters are celebrating Wales' second anniversary as a Fair Trade Nation this month. Wales achieved its status in June 2008 and is currently the only country to have reached the prestigious Fair Trade Nation standard. Elen Jones, the National Coordinator for Fair Trade Wales, said:

‘We are delighted to be celebrating our second year as a Fair Trade Nation. The Fairtrade Mark is now widely recognised throughout Wales, and Welsh shoppers are choosing Fairtrade on a regular basis. We are entering the second stage of the Fair Trade Nation campaign and now want to focus on increasing fair trade public policy and promoting a deeper understanding of Fair Trade issues throughout Wales.'

She said:

‘We would also like to congratulate Scotland who are in their final stages of their nation campaign and extend our support to any other countries who wish to join us.'

The Environment Minister, Jane Davidson, who strongly supported the Fair Trade Nation program said:

‘I am very proud that Wales was the first country to achieve Fair Trade status and delighted that we are now celebrating our second anniversary as a Fair Trade nation.'

‘I am encouraged to see that the sales of Fair Trade goods are still on the increase in Wales and that more and more of us are happy to pay a fair price for everyday goods such as tea, coffee and chocolate in the knowledge that we are supporting some of the poorest farmers and producers in the world to trade their way out of poverty.'

Wales has over 77% of its local authorities working towards Fair Trade status, compared to just 31% in Scotland and 25% in England along with 804 schools working towards becoming Fair Trade Schools. A recent independent survey, commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government, shows that over 50% of Welsh shoppers choose Fair Trade on a regular basis.