February 2011
On 14th February 2011 first ever Fairtrade and Fairmined gold, produced by artisanal and small-scale miners was launched on the market in the UK and Canada. This is an achievement of historical importance in the global effort to transform Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (AGSM) in a dignified and responsible activity.
n March 2010 Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) and Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO) created the Fairtrade and Fairmined Standard for gold extracted by small-scale and artisanal miners (read the standard).
Initially the Fairtrade and Fairmined certification is available to artisanal and small-scale miners in Latin America, and it will be expanded in Africa and Asia at a later stage.
READ THE OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
To find out more about the ASGM and the Fairtrade and Fairmined initiative, we invite you to read the new Gold Policy Report published by the Fairtrade Foundation (member of Fairtrade International in the UK) and the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) to mark this occasion.
The launch was celebrated at a press event in the prestigious Hatton Garden jewellery quarter in London. The speakers included: ·Juana Peña – a miner from Cotapata Cooperative from Bolivia; Manuel Reinoso – a mining leader from Perú; ·Harriet Lamb – Executive Director of Fairtrade Foundation; ·Cristina Echavarría – Executive Director of ARM (read the speech); ·Greg Valerio – Fair Trade Gold pioneer; and the award winning British jeweller Stephen Webster.
If you are interested in purchasing Fairtrade and Fairmined gold visit www.fairgold.org for more information
If you are a mining organization from Latin America interested in certifying with Fairtrade and Fairmined please contact ARM: gro.g1778713360ninim1778713360ytinu1778713360mmoc@1778713360mra1778713360
