German companies promote AVE model

Belzau said that the AVE model is the only industry solution in Germany that regulates social responsibility. In addition, each company has its own internal supervision plan. The AVE certification has been recognized in Germany and the Netherlands and is being promoted across Europe. Companies in the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland have also joined in the name of "Business Social Compliance Action". Belzau said: "Almost all AVE members are participants in the AVE model. In principle, the vast majority of companies in the retail trade industry in Germany and the Netherlands implement the AVE model."

From 2003 to 2004, AVE and its project partner, the German Technical Cooperation Association, held information seminars before the AVE model certification in 11 important exporting countries, including related activities held in China in February and March this year. Belzao said that there are already suppliers in China who have accepted AVE certification.

Belcao said he could understand but did not agree with the view that SA8000's linking of human rights and trade might become a form of trade barrier. He believed that trading companies were very concerned about the social responsibility performance of foreign suppliers, not only because they regarded social responsibility as an important part of corporate responsibility, but also out of practical considerations: if there were so-called social responsibility violations behind the products, trading companies would face criticism and pressure from domestic labor rights organizations. He believed that in this regard, the social responsibility standards were not intended to set additional conditions for suppliers from China and other countries, but to find an overall solution to this problem.

Belcao said that the purpose of the AVE model, more precisely, is to improve the social performance of enterprises. It is not to interrupt trade with suppliers when they fail to meet social responsibility standards, but to continue to develop and improve partnerships and improve the social responsibility performance of suppliers through training and support from trading partners.

Belzau confirmed that the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has discussed the issue of social responsibility standards. However, it was only recently decided to develop a guiding document on corporate social responsibility, which cannot be understood as a new standard. Whether this document will serve as the basis for ISO standards remains to be seen. He said that it is impossible to judge whether there will be a global social responsibility standard in the future. However, there has been a trend recently that different systems have been brought together through cooperation or mutual recognition. "Nevertheless, I think it is unlikely that a unified standard will emerge worldwide, because industry differences will continue to hinder this development."