The International Council of Hides, Skins and Leather Traders Associations, ICHSLTA, represents the interests of the hide, skin and and leather trades of more than thirty countries. It is the only international recognised body of it's kind.
Founded in 1929 as a non-political organisation, it's principal object is the promotion, development and protection of the international trade in raw hides, skins and leathers. It's success is reflected in the growing number of member countries.
Central to the work of the council is the drafting, publishing and constant revision of the international series of contracts which ensure the integrity of the trade, affording both maximum protection to both buyers and sellers. In this work ICHSLTA negotiates regularly with the International Council of Tanners to ensure accord on an unbiased set of rules for the civilised and fair conduct of the trade internationally.
The contract is revised regularly to meet changing world developments and is used internationally as well as domestically within national markets. Since inception more than sixty years ago the International Contracts have been upheld by International Courts of Law and Chambers of Arbitration. The Council provides assistance to it's members in arbitration matters. Hide and skin improvement and careful consideration of enviromental issues are vital fields of concern to the Council. The Council sets out guidlines and gives advice on production , grading and marketing to improve reliability and understanding throughout the world. In these directions the Council acts both independently or in conjunction with national trade associations and with other internationally recognised bodies. The Council meetings provide a forum for discussions on the trade and related interests so that individual members can be made aware of those events and trends in world trade which affect the leather industry. In addition the Council provides members with the acclaimed and important, international, commercial contract forms. Finally, membership of the Council is seen as conferring on it's members reputability and commercial status internationally.