20 years - Austria / II. Republic of Austria 2013 - 62 Euro Cent

"FAIRTRADE Austria" - full name "Association for the Promotion of Fair Trade with the Countries of the South" - is a non-profit association founded in 1993 and based in Vienna. To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Swiss Post congratulates with its own special stamp; the artistically placative motif design comes from Michael-Johannes Hahn. The overriding goal of FAIRTRADE Austria is undoubtedly a development policy: the reduction of poverty in Asia, Latin America and Africa. Small farmers and plantation workers as well as their families and communities should be supported and their living and working conditions should be sustainably improved. - But how does the organization work? Well, FAIRTRADE Austria gives importers, processors and distributors who meet the defined standards the right to use the FAIRTRADE seal for their products. In addition, of course marketing and public relations are important tasks - and last but not least, FAIRTRADE Austria also acts as a national seal initiative at the umbrella organization FLO, which sets FAIRTRADE standards. Products bearing the FAIRTRADE seal are available in several thousand stores - including world and health food stores, supermarkets, discounters and hospitality businesses. In terms of royalties, the main products are fruits, coffee, fruit juices, chocolate and roses. In addition, tea, other sweets, rice, dried fruit, sports balls and textiles are also licensed. The association itself finances its work by far the lion's share through royalty income for the FAIRTRADE seal it awards, in addition to funds from grants and various sponsoring activities. However, most of the revenue goes into the "Personnel Expenditure" and "Project Expenditure" items, and about 15 percent of the revenue goes to contributions to the international certification and inspection organizations FLO and FLO-Cert GmbH. For the producers, the FAIRTRADE standards produce economic benefits through price advantages based on guaranteed minimum prices and FAIRTRAD premiums, as well as through price stability, long-term supply relationships and pre-financing options. Furthermore, the living conditions of farmers and farm workers should be improved by ecological and social standards. The new special stamp sees itself as a sign of awareness and as a tribute to a very ambitious organization.