To participate in BSCI, companies and associations are required to first become members of the Foreign Trade Association (FTA). There are two forms of membership in the FTA:

• Ordinary members: Ordinary members gather participating companies with commercial and related trade activities worldwide, along with participating trade associations. Ordinary members have full membership rights.
• Associate members: Any other organisation or natural persons who do not meet the criteria of ordinary members but support the goals of FTA*. Associate members have limited membership rights, meaning that they cannot vote in the FTA General Assembly.

* The FTA by-laws stipulate that companies whose main activity is manufacturing in defined risk countries are not eligible for any kind of FTA membership.