The Social Standards component is currently focusing on the following areas:

Industry and trade 

• Development and application of a training module on profitable social management for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
• Support for the implementation of codes of conduct (part of pilot measures of the Code of Conduct Round Table)
• Coordination of the German Code of Conduct Round Table
• Setting up of Round Tables in eleven countries in Asia and Eastern Europe on social standards in the textile and apparel industries

Fair trade

• Support for the harmonisation of fair trade in Germany
• Support for the introduction of additional fair trade products in the German market
• Support for enhancing the market share of fair trade products
  

Agriculture

• Development of a list of criteria for good social practices in agriculture
• Support for socially and environmentally sound cut-flower production
• Cooperation on developing a Common Code for the Coffee Community