"Who bears the cost of cheap food?", 1 Sep 2014 

…Ideally workers and farmers contributing to international supply chains develop skills and earn an income that contributes to their family’s household income...[I]n the worst cases, workers’ lives, limbs, and health are put at risk…The impact study commissioned by ETI…indicated that purchasing practices are a key barrier to improving conditions in supply chains. To help improve [these practices]…Traidcraft [collaboratively] produced a set of responsible purchasing guides…When surveying suppliers, we learned that ethical trade requests are marginal…A change in the culture and practice of purchasing is needed…Traidcraft… advocated for the establishment of a dedicated and independent adjudicator to help improve purchasing practices of UK food retailers…The GCA has been operational since 2013 and their role is to monitor, investigate and enforce supermarkets purchasing fairly from their direct suppliers…ETI members collaborated to set up the Gangmaster Licensing Authority (GLA) and have found that it has performed a useful function…