Exporters, producers and
retailers can now compare dozens of different voluntary standards in one place.
The International Trade Centre’s (ITC) new Standards Map website (www.standardsmap.org) is the first
comprehensive database on voluntary standards such as Fairtrade, Forest
Stewardship Council, Marine Stewardship Council, GlobalG.A.P. and others.
Standards Map covers
voluntary or ‘private’ standards developed by
non-governmental organizations and private entities. Compliance with these
standards is not legally required by governments or regulations, but it could
lead to more sustainable environmental practices or potentially open up new
markets.
Standards Map was set up
by ITC as private standards experienced unprecedented growth, becoming in many
cases de facto requirements for
southern exporters wishing to enter developed country markets. Accompanying
this growth is an increasing need for information and transparency.
‘Producers and exporters in the developing world often lack
information when considering whether and how to engage in more sustainable
production and trade practices,’ said Patricia R. Francis, Executive Director of ITC. ‘The same applies to their
support organizations, be it trade support institutions or chambers of
commerce. The Standards Map website provides a clear and simple way for businesses
to make decisions on voluntary standards.’
There are currently 30
standards or codes of conduct available for comparison on the website. These
standards operate in more than 180 countries and collectively certify or verify
over 60 product groups. Additional standards will be continually added to the
website.
The website will be translated into Spanish and French by the end of February
2011.
ITC is the joint agency of
the World Trade Organization and the United Nations and is devoted to enabling
SMEs in developing countries to become more competitive in global markets and
thus to speed up sustainable economic development and contribute to the
achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.