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Dear Members and friends,
Welcome to the February issue of the TSPN Newsletter! This Newsletter aims to provide you with quick and regular information on key activities and news related to the TSPN network, its members and other standard-related actors, with a particular emphasis on voluntary sustainability standards. It further gives you a short overview of upcoming events and recent publications.
We appreciate any feedback and comments on this newsletter.
Best regards,
TSPN Secretariat
New TSPN member: UNDP Mexico
The TSPN welcomes The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Mexico, “Area of Competitiveness and Private Sector Development”, as a new member!
The UNDP Mexico’s “Area of Competitiveness and Private Sector Development” helps to reduce poverty by promoting the competitiveness of Mexico’s value chains, and the creation of quality employment within them. Towards this goal the Area performs two types of activities: On one hand, it assists the planning, implementation and evaluation of projects that support SMEs financially or with technical assistance, including their relationship with larger enterprises. On the other, it has a policy design unit, to collaborate with governments at the federal and state levels in the formulation of policies that improve Mexico’s competitiveness.
Read more…
ITC launches online Cotton Exporter’s Guide
The International Trade Centre launched a dynamic, interactive trilingual version of its Cotton Exporter’s Guide as part of its drive to increase the exchange of information in the sector and improve the skills and abilities of developing countries in cotton trading and marketing.
The Cotton Exporter’s Guide is a reference book that contains pragmatic and operational information on the international cotton market. The objective is to provide all those engaged in producing and exporting cotton with a thorough and down-to-earth understanding of all aspects of the international cotton trade.
This guide is primarily targeted at cotton producers, ginners, exporters and traders in cotton producing developing countries, mainly, but not exclusively, in Africa. As the guide provides a comprehensive view of all aspects of the cotton value chain from a market perspective, it will also help government officials to gain a deeper understanding of the crucial aspects that need to be addressed in cotton export development.
Read more…
In Other Headlines
Call for new African smallholder product proposals
An opportunity exists via a partnership between the IIED/SFL “New Business Models for Sustainable Trade” project and the UK’s second ranked supermarket chain Asda to make new supplier introductions. The retailer is opening a communication channel designed to bring new suppliers based in sub-Saharan Africa to the attention of the senior category buyers.
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Food Safety at the WHO Executive Board
The WHO Executive Board (EB) discussed food safety and forwarded a suggested new resolution on "Advancing food safety initiatives" to the 63rd World Health Assembly (WHA) in May 2010.
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Sustainable Agriculture Network to Expand Certification System
The Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) and the International Organic Accreditation Service (IOAS) have launched a pilot program that is expected to deliver even greater confidence and trust in the Rainforest Alliance Certified™ frog seal which already appears widely on agricultural products from around the world.
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About the TSPN
The Trade Standards Practitioners Network (TSPN) is an international network established in 2005. Our diverse membership base includes multi-lateral agencies, bilateral organizations, research institutes, and providers of technical assistance, standard-setting bodies, NGOs, and other practitioner organizations in developing countries.
Upcoming Events
2010 SFL Summit
Costa Rica
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14-18 Mar 10
Sustainable Food Lab (SFL) members and partners will dig deeply into pilot projects and share projections of industry-wide developments. Topics include carbon quantification and markets, supply chains from developing countries, regional sourcing, and alignment among outcome metrics. Learning journeys will precede the plenary.
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30th Annual Meeting of the International Association for Impact Assessment
International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG), Geneva, Switzerland
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6-11 Apr 10
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Union for Ethical BioTrade Conference
Paris, France
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16-16 Apr 10
This conference targets cosmetics, personal care, and food companies that are sourcing natural ingredients from the world’s rich biodiversity.
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