What makes trade fair is the set of standards and policies which have been created through a democratic and transparent process in which all stakeholders are involved. Third-party oversight and enforcement of these standards ensures their authenticity.

The Fairtrade Labeling Organizations International (FLO) sets the worldwide Fair Trade standards for certification known as the International Fair Trade Standards. The International Fair Trade Organization (IFAT) monitors Fair Trade organizations their adherence to Fair Trade standards and for their transparency and accountability to their stakeholders. FLO and IFAT are the only accrediting bodies for the third-party certifiers.

There are 20 National Initiatives (http://www.fairtrade.net
/labelling_initiatives.html) that market the Fairtrade label and conform to the FLO Fairtrade Standards, including the very first third-party fair trade coffee certifier, the Max Havelaar Foundation, and TransFair USA, the only third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the U.S.

MAX HAVELAAR FOUNDATION
The Max Havelaar Foundation was the first third-party fair trade coffee certifier in the world. The Foundation began bringing fair trade coffee to the Netherlands in the 1980s, and now is one of the FLO’s 20 National Initiatives. (The main site is in Dutch. The English version is a shortened version of the Max Havelaar website).
http://www.maxhavelaar.nl/pages/template.asp?rID=107

TRANSFAIR USA
TransFair USA is one of the 20 members of the Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO), and the only third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the United States.
Transfair USA > About Fair Trade > Overview
http://www.transfairusa.org/content/about/overview.php

There are standards for both traders and producers, all of which seek to enhance social, economic and environmental development.

Traders’ standards include paying producers in advance and at a price that covers the costs of improving their equipment and methods of harvest. Traders are also required to sign long-term contracts with producers, providing the security and incentive for producers to improve their production.

Producer’s standards are divided into two categories. One set is for small farmers organized in co-operatives or other organizations with a democratic, participative structure. The second set applies to organized workers.

The FLO’s Generic Standards distinguish between minimum requirements, which producers must meet to be certified, and progress requirements that encourage producer organizations to continuously improve in all standards' areas and to invest in the development of the organizations and their producers/workers.

As consumers we know that a product is Fair Trade certified by the Fair Trade label/logo, which guarantees that the product conforms to the Fair Trade standards and helps improve the lives of disadvantaged producers and workers.

FAIRTRADE LABELING ORGANISATIONS
INTERNATIONAL (FLO)
Fairtrade Labeling Organizations International (FLO) is the worldwide Fair Trade Standard setting and Certification organization. FLO guarantees that products sold with a Fair Trade label conforms to Fair Trade Standards and contributes to the development of disadvantaged producers and workers. Go to this site to learn about the standards for Fair Trade certification that the FLO has agreed on.
FLO > Standards
http://www.fairtrade.net/standards.html

INTERNATIONAL FAIR TRADE ASSOCIATION (IFAT)
The International Fair Trade Association (IFAT) is an international network of 270 Fair Trade organizations representing 60 countries. IFAT promotes Fair Trade, develop markets for fair trade products and monitors its member organizations for adherence to the Fair Trade standards. Learn about the standards of the FTO Mark regarding working conditions, wages, child labor and the environment.
IFAT > Building Trust >Monitoring Process Overview
http://www.ifat.org/monitoring.shtml