The Assembly Member for Aberconwy Janet Finch-Saunders, is calling for greater recognition for the overall aims of the Fair Trade Wales status.

Commenting on previous promises made by Conwy County Borough Council and the Welsh Government to use and promote the use of Fair Trade products Janet said

"Working with local resident Nia Higginbotham and her team within  Conwy Fair Trade Alliance I have been a little disappointed to learn that although such organisations have gained a the recognised Fairtrade Award status for using these products, there is little incentive for them to buy or adhere to the protocol across the departmental structure of both organisations.

The ethos of using products that pay a fair wage to such producers isn't only for those farmers working in tea and coffee plantations across the world.

The same principle can be applied when supporting our own local farmers, who produce outstanding quality local produce often for very little return.

The dairy industry in Wales is one such example where bottled water is more expensive to purchase than fresh dairy milk.

My office team and I are proud to have been awarded the Fairtrade status and we shall purchase these products where able.

I remain very committed to working alongside Nia and her team in Conwy Fairtrade Alliance to promote the use and profile of these quality products that succeed in giving back a little more profit to those producing same.