ICCO REPORT ■ 47
C&CI
In essence, the issue of sustainability
boils down to a reluctance on the part of
Objectives of the new ICCA
March 2010
the producers to find themselves dispropor- "With a view to strengthening the global cocoa sector, supporting its sustainable
tionately burdened with the responsibilities development and increasing the benefits to all stakeholders, the objectives of the
and costs involved in achieving sustainabili- Seventh international Cocoa Agreement are:
ty at an environmental and social level if, as
far as the economic dimension of the con- a) To promote international cooperation in the world cocoa economy;
cept is concerned, the ICCA cannot assure b) To provide an appropriate framework for discussion on all cocoa matters among
them of remunerative prices - which, of governments and with the private sector;
course, it cannot, as it will have no eco- c) To contribute to the strengthening of the national cocoa economies of Member
nomic clauses. However, the importers countries, through the preparation, development and evaluation of appropriate proj-
insist that the relevant article on sustainabili- ects to be submitted to the relevant institutions for financing and implementation and
ty must cover the issue from all three stand- seeking finance for projects that benefit Members and the world cocoa economy;
points, so a form of words will have to d) To strive towards obtaining fair prices leading to equitable economic returns to
found that meets this objective, but also both producers and consumers in the cocoa value chain, and to contribute to a bal-
allays producers’ concerns about the finan- anced development of the world cocoa economy in the interest of all Members;
cial implications. This may not be easy. e) To promote a sustainable cocoa economy in economic, social and environmental
terms;
Producer concerns f) To encourage research and the implementation of its findings through the promo-
Another matter to be settled is the new tion of training and information programmes leading to the transfer to Members of
ICCA’s duration. In January, the producers technologies suitable for cocoa;
proposed 10 years, with the possibility of g) To promote transparency in the world cocoa economy, and in particular in the
two five-year extensions and the scope for cocoa trade, through the collection, analysis and dissemination of relevant statistics
an evaluation of how the treaty was func- and the undertaking of appropriate studies; as well as to promote the elimination of
tioning – and thus whether changes were trade barriers;
necessary - after the first five years. This (h) To promote and to encourage consumption of chocolate and cocoa-based prod-
proposal reflects the view that the full-scale ucts in order to increase demand for cocoa, inter alia through the promotion of the
renegotiation of a commodity treaty should positive attributes of cocoa, including health benefits, in close cooperation with the
be avoided if at all possible, as it can be a private sector;
costly and lengthy diversion from an i) To encourage Members to promote cocoa quality and to develop appropriate food
agency’s real job of dealing with matters safety procedures in the cocoa sector;
related to the raw material itself. j) To encourage Members to develop and implement strategies to enhance the capaci-
ty of local communities and small-scale farmers to benefit from cocoa production and
Streamlining
thereby contribute to poverty alleviation;
k) To facilitate the availability of information on financial tools and services that can
operations
assist cocoa producers, including access to credit and approaches to managing risk."
The new ICCA, as set out in the draft text
so far agreed, will, it is hoped, make the
ICCO more efficient through the abolition agreed – has now been sent to UNCTAD ensure the speedy signing and ratification
of current bodies, such as the executive for translation and dissemination among of the accord. Vingerhoets says that he is
committee, seen as superfluous, and the UN members, all of which will be invited "very confident" that several countries not
creation of new ones. These will stream- to the Geneva conference, which will be currently members will join the ICCO with its
line operations at the ICCO and give chaired by a representative from a pro- new mandate from a new ICCA.
greater emphasis to various aspects of ducer country. They include not only Indonesia, Vietnam
the agency’s work – not only the further- Anything additionally agreed in Yaoundé and Sierra Leone, all of which have already
ing of sustainability, but also the sponsor- will be sent separately to UNCTAD as an expressed an interest in joining the agency,
ing of cocoa development projects. The addendum. but also Colombia and Costa Rica. He is
draft – which will contain the various pro- Assuming a successful outcome to the also "hopeful" that China will come on
posal on contentious issues not yet Geneva conference, the task then will to be board, too. ■ C&CI
Visit Coffee & Cocoa International (C&CI)
on stand # 2269 at the the SCAA’s
22nd Annual Exposition, Anaheim, California.
15-18th April
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