Chiquita Brands International has announced that independent auditors have certified its banana farms in Colombia, Costa Rica and Panama to the Social Accountability 8000 labour and human rights standard and the EurepGap food safety standard.
The SA8000 certifications earned by the multi-national to date cover operations that employ more than 12,000 people, over half of Chiquita's total employees. The EurepGap certifications cover approximately 14,000 hectares: about two-thirds of the company's owned banana farm operations.
Chiquita adopted SA8000 as the labor standard in its code of conduct in 2000 and is working toward compliance and third-party certification to SA8000 in all of its owned banana divisions. In 2002, Chiquita's banana division in Costa Rica earned SA8000 certification.
"Our SA8000 and EurepGap certifications reflect this company's tremendous efforts and commitment to attain high ethical, social and environmental standards based on the principles of transparency and independent verification," said Fernando Aguirre, president and chief executive officer.
Independent auditing organizations - Bureau Veritas Quality International, European Food Safety Inspection Service and Intertek Testing Services - completed inspections of Chiquita's banana production, harvesting and packaging operations in December 2003, and the company received its certificates early this year. The company has committed to achieve EurepGap certification in 2004 and SA8000 certification in 2005 at its owned operations in Guatemala and Honduras.
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