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Fairtrade Certification
11 December 2025
Lead MP
Martin Rhodes
Glasgow North
Lab
Responding Minister
Chris Bryant
Tags
Economy
Word Count: 11930
Other Contributors: 8
At a Glance
Martin Rhodes raised concerns about fairtrade certification in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
He welcomed the Government’s responsible business review and urged the Minister to reflect on how certification standards can deliver ethical business practices in his response.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Mr Rhodes raised concerns about the ethical practices of corporations exploiting farmers and workers through poor auditing standards. He highlighted that not all certification standards were created equal, with some being used for greenwashing or hiding unethical practices.
St Ives
Mr George suggested integrating international Fairtrade standards into the Groceries Code Adjudicator, a statutory body looking at final suppliers to large supermarkets, as another step forward for scaling up Fairtrade practices. Asked if the campaign believes that success can only be achieved with the Government leading by example with its official development assistance budget, which has been severely cut.
Ellie Chowns
Green
North Herefordshire
Welcomes the Brew it Fair campaign and petition for mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence legislation, noting more than 80 MPs have signed an early-day motion in support.
Katrina Murray
Lab
Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch
Outlined the importance of fair trade, highlighting exploitation in banana plantations across South America and the need for fair wages and conditions.
Liz Twist
Lab
Blaydon and Consett
Ms Twist thanked Mr Rhodes for securing the debate and agreed that working with big companies to incentivise best practice and transparency would protect small and ethical businesses in the process.
Martin Rhodes
Lab
Manchester Withington
Emphasised the importance of trade relations in the context of cuts to aid budgets and highlighted issues in the fashion and textile sector due to lack of regulatory pressure. He supported human rights and environmental due diligence legislation. Thanked all participants for their contributions and highlighted the significance of community campaigns in Fairtrade initiatives.
Phil Brickell
Lab
Bolton West
Supported the initiative by highlighting a campaign from children in his constituency advocating for sustainable palm oil labelling, emphasizing its importance alongside Fairtrade.
Sarah Olney
LD
Barnet and Camden
Supported the case for Fairtrade and proposed a duty of care for businesses to protect human rights and the environment, advocating for ethical supply chains and climate-friendly investments. Asked if fair trade is equivalent to free trade and whether barriers should be removed for a fairer playing field.
Emphasized the importance of looking at issues in the round, paying tribute to Howies' ethical practices and cautioning against a race to the bottom.
Government Response
Chris Bryant
The Minister of State, Department for Business and Trade
Government Response
The world is more interconnected than ever before, which necessitates a comprehensive approach to responsible business conduct. The Government acknowledges the importance of Fairtrade certification in promoting ethical sourcing practices and supports initiatives like the Developing Countries Trading Scheme that aim to reduce tariffs on goods from low and middle-income countries. Stressed the importance of addressing issues comprehensively, commended Howies' ethical practices, warned against a race to the bottom, and mentioned the establishment of the Office for Responsible Business Conduct.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.