A WESTMINSTER group set up to promote Fairtrade has been urged to subject the organisation to greater scrutiny.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Fairtrade, chaired by Scottish Labour MP Martin Rhodes, has been challenged to take a more critical approach in an open letter.
Fairtrade is an organisation that works with farmers, workers and businesses to improve conditions and prices in global supply chains.
However, critics – including human rights activist Fernando Morales-de la Cruz – have questioned how much of the value of Fairtrade products ultimately reaches farmers, and argued that the system isn’t doing enough to guarantee many a living income or tackle problems such as poverty and child labour.
“A logo does not make an exploitative supply chain fair,” Morales-de la Cruz writes in his letter to Rhodes.
He then said that the APPG should be holding Fairtrade to account rather than acting as an extension of its advocacy.
Rhodes, the MP for Glasgow North, has previously served as chief executive of the Scottish Fair Trade Forum before being elected to Parliament.
“Your responsibility now is to the public and to Parliament,” the letter states.
Morales-de la Cruz, who has investigated child labour and corporate supply chains for more than a decade, highlighted the words of Reuters correspondent for West and Central Africa Ange Aboa in which he described labels such as “Rainforest Alliance” and “Fairtrade” as the “biggest scam of the century”.
Morales-de la Cruz continued in his letter: “Whether one agrees with that statement or not, it raises a question that Parliament should be willing to examine seriously.
“If Fairtrade is as transformative as its public messaging suggests, where is the evidence of transformation?
“Where is the evidence that farmers are receiving sufficient income to live with dignity?
“Where is the evidence that child labour has been eliminated from the supply chains in which Fairtrade operates?”
The criticism comes ahead of Fairtrade Fortnight, an annual event organised by the organisation to highlight the importance of ethical trade, later this month.
Morales-de la Cruz challenged Rhodes to decide whether his role should be to promote Fairtrade or to subject the organisation to proper scrutiny.
“You can continue to act as an advocate for Fairtrade,” the letter states.
“Or you can use your position as a parliamentarian to subject Fairtrade to the same scrutiny you would expect of any other organisation seeking public trust.”
The letter concludes: “Consumers deserve truth, not reassurance. Farmers deserve prosperity, not permanent poverty management. Children deserve education, not work.
“And Parliament should serve those interests – not the public-relations interests of a certification industry.”
A Fairtrade spokesperson said: “There are still significant challenges across global supply chains, and that is precisely why Fairtrade exists. We work with farmers and workers, cooperatives, businesses, traders, and governments to improve conditions for the people who are too often paid the least, yet bear the greatest burden of poverty, inequality and climate change.
“In 2025, UK sales generated around £30 million in Fairtrade Premium, enabling producers to invest in farming improvements and community priorities of their choosing. However, the majority of tea, coffee, chocolate, flowers, and other products sold in the UK are not Fairtrade certified, and the proportion is even smaller globally.”
They added: “Increasing the amount sold by farmers on Fairtrade terms remains one of the most effective ways to deliver better prices, stronger protections, and greater investment to farming communities. That is why we work to raise consumer awareness and partner with businesses to expand demand for Fairtrade products.
“However, voluntary action alone is not enough. We urgently need businesses to invest more in their supply chains: paying fair prices, tackling human rights abuses, and safeguarding the environment. We also need stronger regulation: calling on the UK Government to introduce mandatory Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence legislation. This would create a level playing field for businesses while ensuring all companies operate responsibly and take steps to prevent human rights abuses and environmental harm in their global supply chains.”
The statement went on: “It is also important to note that the Fairtrade Mark already meets the requirements of the EU's Empowering Consumers Directive (EmpCo), one of the most rigorous anti-greenwashing standards being introduced globally. EmpCo bans vague, unsubstantiated environmental claims and requires independent verification for any sustainability label. It takes effect for EU companies in September 2026. Fairtrade certification meets this bar through FLOCERT, our independent certification body, which is accredited to ISO 17065.
“While EmpCo doesn't legally apply in the UK, we've chosen to align with the legislation voluntarily. This reflects our commitment to transparency and demonstrates that our certification model stands up to some of the world's most rigorous anti-greenwashing requirements.”
Martin Rhodes was approached for comment.
