KATHMANDU: To maintain the quality and purity of Nepalese orthodox tea and maintain human and environmental relations, tea estates and processing centres in eastern Nepal have committed to a Code of Conduct (CoC).

Tea made under CoC is called ‘All Fair Nepal Tea’, according to Dilli R Baskota, general secretary of Himalayan Tea Producers Cooperative Ltd (HIMCOOP-Nepal). Banskota said there are four pillars of the CoC: Respect for nature, people, transparent process and assurance of quality. The CoC compliance committee audits the CoC and works from the Himalayan Orthodox Tea Producers Association (HOTPA) premises. “HIMCOOP was established in 2003 by HOTPA to export and globally market the orthodox tea grown by its members,” said Baskota.

He said, “There are over 15,000 small families each holding an average area of 0.25 hectares who sell tea leaves to HIMCOOP’s processing plants. A large number of these farmers are already registered as CoC compliant suppliers.”

According to Tsuchiya Kanji, director of Nepali Bazaro Ltd, the World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO) global conference 2009 will help in the promotion of transparency and equity in trade and commerce through environmentally and socially responsible production patterns.

“Global market demands not only quality of the product but also social and environmental responsibility,” said Kanji adding that Japanese people mainly rely on sustainable organic farming and the fair trade programme targets the promotion of organic products in the niche market. “We are also interested in promoting organic handicrafts, tea, coffee, and paper clothes,” he said.

The conference aims to launch the WFTO logo as an identity of indigenous producers. WFTO believes in fair trade, no labour exploitation, no cut-throat competition and no harm to the environment, according to Fair Trade Group Nepal. The group has 16 member organisations and 7000 individuals, based on different indigenous/ethic backgrounds.

Around 55 national chapters and 250 fair trade groups are participating in the five-day long conference. The conference is focusing on economic and environmental issues and searching for ways out of the economic crisis.

Delegates at the conference will discuss trade and commerce along with climate change, sustainable business, and current economic recession and fair trade management system till May 21. There are 80 stalls from 30 countries of Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific. The Market Place 2009 is full of indigenous productions from more than 30 countries. South Asian countries like Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Pakistan are displaying their products. The Market Place opens after the conference everyday at 8 pm from May 17 to 21.