Glossary

If you feel that the world of Fair Trade has its very own language – don’t fret! We’ll keep you in the know!

With this glossary we’ll guide you through the common technical terms used by FLOCERT, Fairtrade International and the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO).

Learn about the wor(l)ds of Fair Trade below!

Navigate the glossary by letter

Force majeure
An overpowering force and/or event characterised as external, unpredictable and unavoidable. The term is frequently used in contracts; in general it …
Forced labour
Work or services undertaken by a person under duress or threat, in circumstances where the person has not offered him/herself voluntarily.
Free on board (FOB)
The seller delivers their part of the contract when the goods pass the ship’s rail at the named port of shipment. This means the buyer must bear …
Freedom of Association
The right of all workers to join or form an organisation of their own choosing without prior authorisation from their employer or public authorities.
Funding partner
A partner who, as a general rule, commits financial resources to a project/programme for a specific period of time.
Gap Analysis
A performance assessment of a business entity against a given Standard or private Code of Conduct. Such a pre-assessment is often used to rate a …
Genetically modified organism (GMO)
A plant, animal or microorganism that is transformed by genetic engineering.
Group Mass Balance
Group Mass Balance (GMB) allows that Fairtrade inputs do not need to be delivered to the same site as that where the Fairtrade output is processed. …
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP)
The term hazard analysis, including the identification of critical control points, describes a methodology to identify, evaluate and control hazards. …
Hired Labour (HL)
The term Hired Labour refers to the Fairtrade Standard for Hired Labour Organisations. These are organisations where the main share of work is …
Hired Labour set-up
The term Hired Labour set-ups describes producing companies that are not membership-based (farms, plantations, factories, manufacturing industries, …
Home worker
A worker who produces or delivers services on order and against payment. They work at home, and the products or services are sent to the principal …
Impact
Any effects arising from an intervention or action. This includes immediate short-term outcomes as well as broader and longer-term effects and …
Industrial Processing Installations
Installations that structurally depend on contracted labour (more than twenty workers, seasonal, temporary or permanent). Due to necessary safety …
Ingredient
Any substance, including a food additive, used in the manufacture or preparation of food and present in the final product, although possibly in a …