Fairtrade Ibérica formed

The increasing demand and interest in Fairtrade products in Portugal prompted Fairtrade Spain to investigate forming Fairtrade Ibérica: Even during difficult economic times, consumers in both countries are increasingly interested in the origin of the products they buy, asking for responsible and ethical products, the Fairtrade Foundation reports. "We have seen a growing interest from Portuguese companies interested in offering Fairtrade products and it’s a better option to be able to work with them closer to Portugal”, said Laura Barrington, International Licensing Manager at Fairtrade International.

The last assembly of Fairtrade Spain’s members established new rules for expanding the organization, as well as the new name, Fairtrade Ibérica. At the assembly, María Jesús Sanz Sanjoaquin, responsible for Institutional Relations at ECODES and president of the board, welcomed five new partner organizations including the Etnor Foundation and the Corresponsables Foundation. The new organizations join the pioneering group of nonprofit organizations who have been promoting Fairtrade in Spain since 2005, including: Alternativa3, the Confederación de Consumidores and Usuarios CECU, Fundación Ecología y Desarrollo ECODES, and Oxfam Intermón ETEA. More information (in Spanish) is available from Fairtrade Ibérica and the Fairtrade Foundation.