[This is an unofficial translation from the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre. You can find the original version here.]

...As an international retailer, we are aware of the impact our business activities have on the environment and society. In addition to our commitment to price and quality, responsibility is the third central pillar of our business policy. For us, responsibility begins with our supply chain: Every business relationship starts with our requirements and these apply to all our suppliers... Moreover, we only trade fruit and vegetables of producers certified according to the internationally recognized GLOBALG.A.P. standard. Alongside requirements concerning the traceability of our products, health and safety regulations as well as the use of plant protection products, this also includes requirements relating to the responsible use of water... Of course, the circumstances described are in no way compatible with our understanding of socially just and humane working conditions... We are presently working on finding internal solutions to this problem...