In several G20 countries, national multi-stakeholder coordination platforms on Voluntary Sustainability Standards are currently taking shape pro-actively, supported by national governments and the UN Forum on Sustainability Standards (UNFSS). The G20 should further promote these initiatives as well as the UNFSS. The world economy is increasingly embedded in Global Value Chains (GVCs). Meanwhile, although the rising significance of GVCs increases the importance of removing both export and import restrictions, the willingness of nations to cooperate in that regard is at an
December 29, 2016
The Discussion Paper no. 7 (https://unfss.org/documentation/discussion-paper-series/) assesses a real-life impact of private sustainability standards (PSS) for cocoa producers in Nicaragua and vegetable farmers in Kenya. Based on interviews standard-complying producers as well as those who had left the standard schemes, the case studies explore the complexities of the tensions between stakeholders’ socio-economic, commercial and environmental priorities. It concludes that priorities projected through stakeholders’ power and embedded relations within global value chains affect what local outcomes – positive
The German Development Institute and its partners in the Managing Global Governance (MGG) Network and the Federation of German Industries (BDI), in collaboration with UNFSS, organised conference to discuss the UNFSS 2nd Flagship report (title) in Berlin (20-22 October 2016). Over 100 participants from Germany, emerging market economies and international organizations actively participated in a multi-stakeholder dialogue on how to make voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) work for sustainable development for all, i.e. for producers, consumers, businesses and the governments. Participants represented national
The 2nd Flagship Report of UNFSS seeks to further dissect the interplay between VSS and public governance processes by striving to answer the following question: What are the optimal dynamics between public policy processes and voluntary sustainability standards to ensure sustainability objectives are most effectively met? In Chapter I, the report delineates how VSS can optimally contribute towards more sustainable patterns of development. In particular, it explores: 1) How can governments effectively support or engage with VSS in such a way that VSS contribute for
July 7, 2016
UNFSS took part at the China High Level Sustainability Standards and Certification Development Forum
Last week, representatives from United Nations agencies, Chinese and foreign government agencies, the business community, and the world’s leading sustainability standards explored in Beijing the opportunities and challenges for developing and implementing sustainability standards systems in the Chinese context. On behalf of the steering committee of the United Nations Forum on Sustainability Standards (UNFSS), and therefore of all five UN partner organizations of UNFSS, delivered an opening remarks at the Forum. Sustainability standards have become globally recognised tools for implementing sustainable
March 15, 2016
On 18 March the Government of India launched a national platform on private sustainability standards. The platform was supported by UNFSS, a joint initiative of five UN Agencies (FAO, ITC, UNCTAD, UNEP and UNIDO). The Quality Council of India (QCI) and UNFSS have agreed to collaborate on setting up a National Platform on PSS in India. The Quality Council of India (QCI) is the national quality facilitation and accreditation body, set up by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government
October 28, 2015
FAO has published a document on Impact of international voluntary standards on smallholder market participation in developing countries. This publication presents the results of a literature review conducted by FAO in 2012 on the impact of voluntary standards on smallholders’ ability to participate in markets. Please follow the link to download the report.
August 4, 2015
We are happy to announce the addition of 3 new Discussion Papers to the UNFSS Discussion Paper Series: UNFSS Discussion Paper #4 Public-Private Collaboration on Policy, Standards, Regulations and Trade Facilitation for Organic Agriculture, by Diane Bowen, in collaboration with Ulrich Hoffmann UNFSS Discussion Paper #5 Plurilateral Regulatory Cooperation on Organic Agriculture and Trade, by Diane Bowen, in collaboration with Ulrich Hoffmann UNFSS Discussion Paper #6 Assuring Coherence between the Market-access and Livelihood Impact of Private
The UNFSS Working Group on Enhancing Interoperability of Sustainability Standards takes special interest in scaling up equivalence among sustainability schemes. Equivalence is especially crucial in the organic sector, where governments regulate organic standards and trade, and can erect barriers to trade when applying these regulations to imports. Currently there are 13 bilateral equivalence arrangements among regulating countries. UNFSS took the opportunity at BioFach, the world’s largest international organic trade fair and Congress, to facilitate presentation and discussion
April 9, 2015
The UNFSS was present at the following events in India in the last quarter of 2014: 29-30 October 2014 – Conference on Trade, Transport and Transit Facilitation in South Asia: Imperative of Bridging Macro-Meso-Micro Gaps between India and Bangladesh. The conference was held at the Hotel Lalit Great Eastern in Kolkata, India, and organised by CUTS International. Mr. Bhutani was a panellist in the session on Standards and Transport related Barriers to Trade Facilitation between Bangladesh and India.
