Environment Food and Rural Affairs written question – answered at on 28 February 2011.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for International Development on the proposal to introduce a 50%. minimum standard for fairly traded tea and coffee procured by central Government departments, prisons and the armed forces under Government Buying Standards.
I have written to all Government Departments saying we will introduce Government Buying Standards for food and food services, with proposed criteria based around improving sustainability and ensuring value for money.
The Secretary of State for International Development and I agree that the Government Buying Standards should encourage the use of fairly traded tea and coffee, and current proposals are that at least 50% of tea and coffee supplied should be certified as such.
There is nothing to stop Departments from procuring more fairly traded goods than this minimum, however all Departments will want to ensure that increased costs to the taxpayer are minimised. We have asked for further evidence of equivalent costs to be submitted by the Fairtrade Foundation.
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