THE status of a whole nation rests in the hands of one Vale of Clwyd town.
If Denbigh loses its standing as a Fairtrade Town in April, then Wales will lose its standing as a Fairtrade Country, councillors have been warned.
Denbigh was granted Fairtrade status in April 2009 and on renewing the application for this April, the Denbigh Fairtrade steering group needs to prove that the activity had developed.
Denbigh Town Council, town clerk Medwyn Jones said: “There’s a lot depending on Denbigh this time around. If one town fails, then the county fails.”
And if the county fails, then Wales as a nation fails.
Denbighshire was granted Fairtrade County status in November 2004 and at present there are three Fairtrade towns in the county.
Llangollen and Rhyl achieved Fairtrade status in October 2007, and both towns will have to renew their applications this autumn.
Denbigh town development officer Sue Muse said: “We have a large number of businesses in Denbigh who are Fairtrade, that is they use or sell Fairtrade products.
“On contacting recently to review for the renewal of the status in Denbigh, I am pleased to say that most if not all are still Fairtrade and we also have a number of new businesses.”
The Fairtrade Foundation runs campaigns with local community groups aimed at boosting awareness of trade issues, and promoting the purchase of Fairtrade products.
Once a local community declares its status as a Fairtrade Town, it must be committed to continuing its campaigning and awareness raising.
To become a Fairtrade Town five goals must be met, with the local council passing a resolution supporting Fairtrade, ensuring Fairtrade products are readily available in the area’s retail outlets, asking local workplaces and community organisations to support Fairtrade and use Fairtrade products whenever possible, securing media coverage and running events to raise awareness of Fairtrade and convening a local Fairtrade steering group.
These goals are classed as the 'Five Cs' - Council, Commerce, Community, Common Consensus and Captains.
Status renewals are required one year after status is achieved and following that, once every two years.
A Denbighshire County Council spokeswoman said that Denbigh was in the process of checking the progress in the town in order to fill in the renewal form for Fairtrade status.
“The Denbighshire county Fairtrade group is also in the process of renewing its Fairtrade status and it is a relationship of interdependence since we all need to show growth in order to maintain our Fairtrade status,” she said.
“The same is true for Wales as a Fairtrade nation too, but there is no doubt that the movement is still growing and sales of Fairtrade products increase year-on-year quite dramatically as the Fairtrade Foundation will be showing as Fairtrade Fortnight begins in two weeks’ time.”