RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – The European Union Delegation in Brazil promoted its first Forum on Fair and Ethical Trade in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro. The event’s main objective was to increase awareness of fair trade, exchange experiences, and identify new business opportunities between the European Union and Brazil, in the interest of facilitating the trade of fair and ethical products.
The event brought together over 100 representatives of organizations including CLAC, Fairtrade International, World Fair Trade Organization, FTAO and the International Trade Center, and representatives of producers, artisans and government institutions, as well as Brazilian fair trade cooperatives including Cafesul, Dos Costas, Coperfam and Coopfam.
In the morning there were three panels on the following topics: the overall panorama for fair trade and international certification; a national strategy and fair and ethical trade in Brazil; and trade opportunities for Brazilian fair trade products in the EU, with the latest regulatory frameworks for the European market and for national markets.
In the afternoon there were workshops addressing topics such as ways to further develop fair trade products in Brazil and to expand the trade of their products in Europe, as well as the necessary legal requirements and certifications.
Participating in the workshops were the President of BRFAIR (National Fair Trade Network of Brazil), Renato Teodoro, and the President of the Boa Esperança Cooperative of Specialty Coffee Producers (Dos Costas) and CLAC Board Member, Andrés Reis.
