Flower export associations in developing countries are crafting their own standards as they begin to make headway into the international market. However, Dutch and European standards regulating environmental management, farming methods, and fertilizer use still rule the day.

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The international market for flowers has expanded considerably in recent years and was valued at almost $7 billion in 2006, representing an increase of over 50 percent since 2000. The Netherlands is the leading export country, accounting for some 50 percent of world trade, although this includes a considerable amount of re-exports of product routed through Holland’s well-developed flower auction system. Other major cut flower (and foliage) exporters include Colombia, Ecuador, Italy, Kenya, Israel, and the United States. The flower export trade has also exhibited positive upward trends in several other developing countries, including Thailand, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Zambia. Flower export associations in many of these countries have developed various codes of practice dealing with environmental, worker safety, and/or social issues. 

Perhaps the most widely used standards are GlobalGAP (formerly EUREPGAP ) and the Dutch MPS (Milieu Programma Sierteelt or Floriculture Environment Project).  GlobalGAP started as an association of European retailers and is better known for the establishment its fruit and vegetable certification program (www.globalgap.org). In order to obtain certification, producers must meet the general Control Points and Compliance Criteria, plus the specific criteria for the Crops Base category, as well as for the “sub-scope,” Flowers and Ornamentals. These farm-level standards address a range of objectives related to environmental management, reduced use of agro-chemicals and worker safety. 

MPS was established by the Dutch floricultural sector with support from the flower auction houses and several flower trading organizations (www.my-mps.com).  MPS offers certification services for several schemes.  The four levels of environmental standards, MPS A, B and C are concerned with reducing the use of fertilizers, energy and waste.  The MPS -Social certificate deals with issues such as safety, health and working conditions.  The MPS -GAP certificate has been awarded “equivalent status” by GlobalGAP, as have several other standards schemes from other countries.

There are myriad of other private standards, some developed in producer countries and others within importing countries, yet associated with outreach to and oversight of producers in exporting countries.  Some incorporate solely organic farming methods; others add other environmental aspects and health and safety requirements for workers. Still others relate to fair trade flowers, including mechanisms channeling more profit to small-scale floriculturalists and/or communities surrounding larger flower growing operations.