Fairtrade Suspension to be Lifted

Olivia Carballo-Avilez

As we reported last week, Belize Sugar Industries Limited saw its Fairtrade certification suspended following an audit back in January that flagged the millers for noncompliance. According to a release from B.S.I., the major noncompliance related to a change in classification of B.S.I. in the FLOCERT System. The other technicalities have been addressed and B.S.I. has submitted corrective measures, which News Five confirmed today have been accepted. Cane Farmer Relations Manager of A.S.R./B.S.I. Olivia Carballo-Avilez says that the suspension should be lifted this week.

Olivia Carballo-Avilez, Cane Farmer Relations Manager, A.S.R./B.S.I.

“There was a technical issue within the fair trace, which is the reporting system that was identified during the audit; had nothing to do with any of the associations, does not affect any of the associations that we currently have an agreement with. So it really is a technical situation. We’ve submitted all of documents for that, they have accepted our corrective measures and so we are just waiting for the final information that our suspension has been lifted.”

Duane Moody

“Any idea in terms of timeline as to when?”

Olivia Carballo-Avilez

“Well we hope it’s this week.”