Fairtrade International Enhances Coffee Standard to Surpass EU Deforestation Regulations

Fairtrade International is revising its coffee standard to align with or surpass the forthcoming regulations of the EU deforestation-free regulations (EUDR).

This sustainability certification organization, dedicated to supporting smallholder farmers globally, is implementing monitoring and reporting requirements for certified coffee producer groups, as well as for buyers and traders within the Fairtrade system. The new standard, effective from 2026, applies to all Fairtrade-certified coffees, not limited to those bound for the EU.

The EUDR, in effect since June 2023 with enforcement for large European companies beginning in January 2025, aims to curb deforestation linked to various agricultural imports in the EU, including coffee.

Fairtrade International’s updated coffee standard offers guidance to approximately 600 coffee cooperatives, representing about 870,000 coffee farmers across 1.1 million hectares, to meet deforestation-free criteria.

Juan Pablo Solis, Fairtrade International’s Senior Advisor for Climate and Environment, emphasized the urgency of addressing climate issues, stating, “There is no denying we are living in an era of climate crisis.”

Approved by the Fairtrade International Standards Committee, the new standard, developed with input from key stakeholders, surpasses EUDR requirements in several aspects. Notably, it establishes a deforestation cut-off date of Jan. 1, 2014, compared to EUDR’s Dec. 31, 2020, cut-off date.

Additionally, the standard mandates producer cooperatives to create prevention and mitigation plans, incorporating satellite-based deforestation monitoring provided by Fairtrade. The organization recently enlisted the services of the Dutch firm Satelligence for satellite monitoring.

While the EUDR requires geolocation data, the Fairtrade standard goes further by obliging producer organizations to collect and report this information to Fairtrade and share it with payers and conveyors. This emphasis on fairness underscores the shared responsibility of all parties involved in protecting the environment.

Fairtrade International had previously increased price minimums and premiums for certified coffees, effective since last August.