OVERVIEW

The Natural Resources and Ethical Trade Programme (NRET) has just prepared a set of 8 briefing papers covering key themes relevant to the implementation of codes of practice in the fresh produce industry. The papers are based on experience and findings from a 3 year research project involving key players from the industry in Ghana, Zimbabwe and the UK. The papers will be distributed widely to developing country growers and exporters, fresh produce trade associations, importers, supermarkets, standard setting bodies (i.e. bodies developing and enforcing codes), and relevant NGOs.

To download a theme paper, click on the title of interest, below:

• THEME PAPER 1: The Case for National Codes [PDF - 61 KB]
• THEME PAPER 2: Building Multi-stakeholder Institutions for Developing & Managing National Codes of Practice [PDF - 723 KB]
• THEME PAPER 3: What are Criteria, Indicators & Verifiers? [PDF - 250 KB]
• THEME PAPER 4: Developing Criteria, Indicators & Verifiers [PDF - 682 KB]
• THEME PAPER 5: Building Awareness & Support for Codes [PDF - 1.09 MB]
• THEME PAPER 6: Managing Codes in the Smallholder Sector [PDF - 941 KB]
• THEME PAPER 7: Integrated Social & Environmental Auditing [PDF - 655 KB]
• THEME PAPER 8: Where to Find Further Information [PDF - 36 KB]

An outline of each paper is provided below.

THEME PAPER 1: The case for national codes

This is aimed primarily at European stakeholders - supermarkets, code bodies, NGOs. The paper:

• Sets out the advantages of national codes, such as those of the Kenya Flower Council (KFC) and the Agricultural Ethics Association of Zimbabwe (AEAAZ), as well as the challenges;
• Provides practical recommendations as to how supermarkets and other code bodes (e.g. EUREP GAP) can support national codes (i.e. through establishment of formal processes for benchmarking national codes against supermarket and other market-led codes).

Click here to download Theme Paper 1 [PDF - 61 KB]

THEME PAPER 2: Building multi-stakeholder institutions for developing & managing national codes of practice

This paper is aimed mainly at export industries who are thinking about setting up their own codes. The paper:

• describes the key factors and steps involved in setting up a national code;
• provides guidance on who needs to be involved at different stages;
• provides guidance on building appropriate institutional structures - how to get multiple stakeholders to work together effectively.

Click here to download Theme Paper 2 [PDF - 723 KB]

THEME PAPER 3: What are criteria, indicators and verifiers?

This paper is aimed at individuals in supermarkets, European code bodies and growers' associations who are responsible for developing codes and putting them into practice. It aims to define and explain the need for good criteria, indicators and verifiers (CIVs).

Click here to download Theme Paper 3 [PDF - 250 KB]

THEME PAPER 4: Developing criteria, indicators and verifiers?

This paper is aimed at individuals in supermarkets, European code bodies and growers' associations who are responsible for developing codes and putting them into practice. It aims to provide practical guidance on how to develop social and environmental criteria, indicators and verifiers (CIVs) for codes of practice.

Click here to download Theme Paper 4 [PDF - 682 KB]

THEME PAPER 5: Building awareness and support

This paper is written for those individuals in a supermarket, export association, importing or exporting company who are responsible for ensuring that a code of practice is implemented. It provides a strategy and tips for how to create awareness and support for a code - from those whose support is necessary for the code to be effectively implemented.

Click here to download Theme Paper 5 [PDF - 1.09 MB]

THEME PAPER 6: Managing smallholders

This paper:

• describes "what it is like to be a smallholder", and why smallholders need to be given special consideration;
• describes the current state of compliance with codes in the smallholder sector, focusing on Zimbabwe as an example;
• presents the opportunities and constraints to implementing codes in the smallholder sector
• presents practical recommendations for the way forward.

Click here to download Theme Paper 6 [PDF - 941 KB]

THEME PAPER 7: Integrated social and environmental auditing

This paper aims to provide practical assistance to export industries in setting up local auditing systems, but also to convince European stakeholders of the feasibility and advantages of local auditing. It is based on the auditing approach NRET have been piloting in Ghana. It covers:

• how to select and train auditors;
• a description of the audit methodology;
• examples of specific information gathering tools;
• advantages and disadvantages of the approach;
• how much does it cost? How can costs be met?

Click here to download Theme Paper 7 [PDF - 655 KB]

THEME PAPER 8: Where to find further information

This paper complements Theme Papers 1 - 7 and provides a selective list of organisations and resources from which you can find further information on the issues covered.

Click here to download Theme Paper 8 [PDF - 36 KB]