Merill J. Fernando, the founder of Dilmah, said Fairtrade is a ‘farce’ (in the NZ Herald on 17 March 2008). However, the Fairtrade certification system has been proven to alleviate poverty and reduce dependency on aid and charity by empowering communities in developing countries to help themselves.

As such, Fairtrade is recognised and supported by all the major development non-government organisations.

The effectiveness of Fairtrade certification is evident in the significant improvements that have already been made to the lives of workers and farmers across the developing world.

For example, SOFA, a Fairtrade Certified tea producer in Sri Lanka, has used Fairtrade revenues to develop their own supplies of clean drinking water, thus reducing the incidence of waterborne disease.

It and many others in Sri Lanka and other parts of the world that have benefited from Fairtrade no longer rely on the charity of wealthy businessmen like Mr Fernando, but are building their own trade links and incomes through Fairtrade.

If Mr Fernando is so confident that Dilmahs's practices meet international consumer expectations of Fairtrade, he should join the Fairtrade system and substantiate his claims through third-party verification.

Steve Knapp

Executive Director

Fair Trade Association of Australia & New Zealand

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