How to Improve Fair Trade: #8

8. All aspects of trade and production are open to public accountability

I am concerned that this requirement favors big business over small business.  In order to be prepared for public accountability a producer has to be very diligent and keep track of lots of different procedures and exchanges within their business.  If a producer is using resources to be accountable she is not using resources in other ways.  To divert resources to such tasks is a lot to ask of a small business and even more to ask of the large number of small informal businesses in the low-income countries.

When all aspects of trade are also subject to public accountability, the hardships on small businesses will be accentuated even more.  And as more resources are used on complying with accountability, the less resources are used in improving health and environmental conditions in personal lives and purchasing mobile phones or clothing.