What is the international standard for Fair Flowers Fair Plants?
The criteria for producer participation in Fair Flowers Fair Plants are:
• Environmental certification:
the company at least has the MPS-A level or equivalent
• Social certification:
the company must satisfy the requirements of the International Code of Conduct (ICC)
Environmental certification: MPS-A level
MPS stands for Milieu Programma Sierteelt (Environmental Programme for Horticulture) and is an international organisation that manages and develops quality marks for the horticultural sector.
The MPS registration system
The MPS-A, B or C qualifications are awarded to growers who register their use of a number of factors with an environmental impact. These factors are: crop protection agents, fertilisers, energy, water and the separation of waste throughout the company.
MPS increases awareness among growers through the keeping of records. Growers also gain greater insight into the environmental effects of growing crops and into their own usage of a number of factors. MPS encourages the grower to reduce his usage by providing insight into the consequences, by presenting alternatives and by presenting comparisons with fellow growers of the same crop.
MPS participants are awarded points on the basis of their usage of each factor.
The points awarded per factor are added together and result in the award of an MPS-A, B or C qualification.
In addition, the A, B and C qualifications are only awarded if the participant has kept records for 13 consecutive periods (i.e. four quarters) and has achieved the corresponding number of points. The participant must also have had an initial company audit. This audit verifies the recorded quantities on the basis of the accounts and the stocks of crop protection agents and fertilisers.
MPS-A
The MPS-A qualification represents the most environmentally-conscious method of cultivation. Growers who have achieved this level and who therefore make the least use of crop protection agents, fertilisers, energy and water and who separate their waste the most, are eligible for participation in FFP.
Audits of MPS
Every year, participants send tens of thousands of summary forms or digital records to MPS. These are then processed, and each participant receives the appropriate qualification on the basis of this data. This qualification allows the participant to profile himself with respect to his clients. The client must therefore be able to absolutely rely on the truthfulness of the qualifications. Reliable audits are therefore extremely important. Every year, 30% of all participating companies are audited by an auditing body recognised by MPS.
Social certification: ICC (International Code of Conduct)
Fair Flowers Fair Plants requires producers to also hold certification for a number of social requirements. These rules have been defined in the following 10 points:
- freedom of association and the right of collective bargaining
- no discrimination (equality of treatment)
- right to the minimum wage (living wages)
- respect for working hours
- a healthy and safe workplace
- responsible and minimal use of pesticides
- work guarantee
- protection of the environment
- no child labour
- no forced labour
The above 10 basic rules have been further elaborated for the flower and plant sector by the IFC (International Flower Coordination) into the ICC. ICC stands for International Code of Conduct. A number of trade unions and human rights’ organisations active specifically in the flower and plant industry are represented in the IFC. In order to guarantee the legitimacy of the social quality mark to which the trade unions and human rights’ organisations have lent their name, the abovementioned representatives are also present during social certification audits taking place at the grower’s company.