Current Issues

Members are well aware of the major changes that have taken place within our industry in recent years. Change of course is inevitable for all businesses over time - the challenge for individuals and for companies, however, is whether to work constructively with the forces seeking change.

The Federation continues to be committed to the proper balance of interests within commercial matters - principally driven by the FCC contract and the arbitration service. However, to keep abreast of developments in all areas relevant to our business, the Federation is involved in a number of initiatives to address the issues raised by our members or by members of other organisations where change may impact upon the cocoa industry.

These initiatives range from marketing structures in West Africa, working with donor institutions, development agencies and farmers-groups through to serious quality issues that face the chocolate industry. The need for linkages between the two extremes of the supply chain have never been more important as they are today with the plight of the cocoa farmers and the increasing demands for quality assurance and food safety placed upon manufacturers.

The results of some of these initiatives will be progressively published in the Market Practice Notes section of the FCC Rules and Regulations Manual.

• Marketing in West Africa
• Bulk Contract Terms
• Cocoa Quality - contract parameters
• Fumigation Link Project - alternatives to methyl bromide
• Jute Bags - compliance with mineral hydrocarbon free specification
• Ochratoxin A
• Sustainable Tree Crops Programme - STCP