Social standards in Organic Agriculture
The social conditions under which organic foods are produced and processed must be tested for organic certification. The assembly of delegates of the second largest German association for organic agriculture took a list of criteria of two pages which regulates the working conditions and social treatment of all people living and working in Naturland operators inside and outside the country.
Full-service offer
Reclaiming the social sustainability of organic products is new and Naturland swim from the beginning part of organic agriculture. So far as social responsibility was defined in the basic rules of Naturland. "Our members are farmers, organizations of small farmers and processors are committed, and social responsibility fits. But the trust must not only satisfy us. For this reason we expanded our control and we offer our members the opportunity to present its entire suite of services," explains manager of Naturland Firos Holterman. Therefore Naturland logo means a comprehensive package of social and organizational quality, continuous Firos Holterman.
Working conditions, basic social security, child labor
The rules provide detailed rules regarding working conditions and safety of all workers. Another emphasis is placed on health and job security. The rules also regulate child labor. Child labor is a reality for millions of children. Naturland cannot abolish it, however Naturland can create a framework that excludes exploitative forms of child labor and ensuring that children can go to school and work that does not harm the physical and mental development of children.
Work intensively
Based on the basic standards of IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements) Naturland developed their social norms. On behalf of IFOAM Naturland designed a checklist for social norms, which was distributed at the beginning of this year between international organizations and certification of fair trade for their comments. The revised list will serve as a checklist for inspectors to monitor the social norms of Naturland. Thomas Hoyer, director of the fair trade organization in Ravensburg DWP Naturland supported to develop social norms and now welcomes the extended rules: "Taking the social norms Naturland is on track. All the people in the projects and build Naturland operators and consumers get organic products produced under socially established."
Source: Naturland – Association for Organic Agriculture