Objective
In accordance with the “World Mountain Peoples’ Charter” and within the framework of the international partnership, the WMPA is wanting to set up an international mountain label in order to promote ways of life that characterize the mountain regions of the world in a fair trade relationship for consumers of mountain produce and the mountain inhabitants themselves.
Domain of implementation
This label will concern the various produce of mountain regions (craft, agriculture, tourism, …) both intangible (services …) and tangible (objects and buildings).
Basis for the terms and conditions
 The specifications of “world –labelling” will be based on the values common to the lifestyle of all mountain people notably:
Adaptation to the physical conditions of the mountain (slopes, climate, altitude) ;
A less artificial and more pluri-active economy ;
Respect of mountain society values: solidarity, respect, autonomy, traditions, priority given to the use of local recourses …
The strong and spiritual relationship, even sacred, held with nature.
Each mountain region can draw up their own specifications relative to their particularities and the type of commercialisation desired.
The WMPA label would complement the labels existing in each region and regarding the criteria for product quality and product origin (production and transformation in mountain areas).
Conditions for implementation
After a discussion period and agreement of the principles by the regional and global WMPAs, there will be implementation on two distinct levels.
Global level
The WMPA will explain the common terms and conditions and will be responsible for insuring that the labels complement those promoted by international organisations and could register an umbrella brand with OHIM (Office for the Harmonization in the Internal Market, embracing 60 countries).
The global WMPA would promote a global label with international organisations.
Regional level
The regional WMPAs could draw up coherent regional brands with the global umbrella brand with the help of the global WMPA if necessary.
Mountain produce cannot qualify for the mountain labelling without first being labelled regionally.
The regional brands will belong to the regional WMPA which will be responsible for their registration.
Attribution, inspection and follow-up of the labelling process could be delegated to a specialised organisation by the regional WMPA.
The regional WMPA will be responsible for making the label known to the mountain people and for its promotion with local and regional customers.
Mutual agreements favouring producers registered with the mountain label (organised by branches or territories) and consumer groups and ethical fair trade distributors. |
At the WMPA board meeting on the 4th/5th September in Ispoure, France, the board decided “to consider the setting up of an international label for mountains” relative to mountain region economy (craft, agriculture, tourism, … ), be it intangible (services …) or tangible (objects, buildings… ). (cf. point 4 of the action programme 2003-2004). To achieve this, a work group has been set up to draw up the specifications for such a label and to envisage the conditions for its implementation.
