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Burstow backs call for government action on Fairtrade
March 1, 2007 12:00 AM
Paul Burstow, MP for Sutton and Cheam - as part of Fairtrade Fortnight - has supported a motion in Parliament calling on the government to press the EU and USA to be more pro-active in reconvening the Doha round of trade talks and to do more to raise awareness of fair trade issues in the UK by extending the use of the existing "Fairtrade Mark".
Mr Burstow's action comes in the same week that Sutton became a Fairtrade borough after a successful campaign to encourage more local businesses and consumers to look behind the label and help them make the right choice about products. The borough will officially receive its new-found Fairtrade status on Thursday 1 March as part of Fairtrade fortnight, run by the Fairtrade Foundation.
Mr Burstow signed EDM 898 - Fair Trade and Ethical Labelling, which calls on the government to take active steps to reconvene the Doha round of trade talks, which take into account the needs of developing countries. The motion also calls on the government to extend the use of the Fairtrade Mark to allow one set of standards across all products that consumers can have confidence in.
Commenting on the news of Sutton's Fairtrade status, Paul Burstow MP said:
"The benefits of Fairtrade for the producers in developing countries are obvious: a guaranteed and stable price for their products, better workers' conditions and a cleaner environment."
"I am delighted that Sutton has become a Fairtrade borough, and hope that this will encourage more local shops, restaurants and cafes to stock Fairtrade products."
"Both as an MP and a consumer I acknowledge how much the Fairtrade mark has done to raise awareness about the need for Fair trade terms between producers and retailers."
"I hope that the government will heed our call for the widespread use of a single, simple standard which consumers can have confidence in."
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