SPS capacity building in Africa to mitigate the harmful effects of pesticides residues in cocoa and to maintain market access

DURATION:
 Two years
LOCATION:
 CAMEROON, CÔTE D’IVOIRE, GHANA, NIGERIA, TOGO
NATURE OF PROJECT:
 Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards
ESTIMATED TOTAL COST:
 US$ 6,264,109
GRANT FINANCING:
 US$ 593,460 – STDF
EXTERNAL CO-FINANCING:
 US$ 3,43,700 EDES; CropLife Africa; UNDP
COUNTERPART FINANCING:
 US$ 2,326,949
PROJECT EXECUTING AGENCY (PEA):
 Fonds Interprofessionnel pour la recherche et le Conseil Agricole (FIRCA)
PROJECT SUPERVISORY BODY:
 International Cocoa Organization (ICCO)
PROJECT STARTING DATE:
 January 2011
COMPLETION DATE:
 December 2013

 

Brief Description

The objective of the project is to maintain market access for cocoa beans from Africa through capacity building in SPS, in order to produce good quality cocoa that complies with the relevant international regulations and legislation on pesticide residues and other harmful substances.

 
Project Status

The project was completed and closed in December 2013.

 
Implementation Results

Please click here to download the Project Completion Report (PCR)

 

SPS Capacity Building in Africa to Mitigate the Harmful Effects of Pesticides Residues in Cocoa and to Maintain Market Access

DURATION:
 Two years
LOCATION:
 CAMEROON, CÔTE D’IVOIRE, GHANA, NIGERIA, TOGO
NATURE OF PROJECT:
 Market Access and Market Development
ESTIMATED TOTAL COST:
 US$ 6,264,109
STDF/WTO GRANT:
 US$ 593,460
CO-FINANCING:
 US$ 3,343,700
COUNTERPART FINANCING:
 US$ 2,326,949
PROJECT EXECUTING AGENCY (PEA):
 Fonds Interprofessionnel pour la Recherche et le Conseil Agricole (FIRCA), Côte d’Ivoire
PROJECT SUPERVISORY BODY:
 International Cocoa Organization (ICCO)
PROJECT STARTING DATE:
 January 2011
COMPLETION DATE:
 December 2013

 

Brief Description

The main activities of the project will include creating awareness among cocoa farmers and other stakeholders along the cocoa supply chain about SPS standards in cocoa;  enhancing the capacity of relevant stakeholders to apply the rational pesticides use component of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Warehousing Practices (GWP); enhancing the institutional capacity in-country to monitor and enforce adherence to SPS standards in cocoa; and strengthen regional collaboration to support institutional capacity in individual countries to apply SPS standards in cocoa.

 
Project Objectives

The overall objective of this project is to maintain market access for cocoa beans from Africa through capacity building in Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards (SPS), in order to produce good quality cocoa that complies with the relevant international regulations and legislations on pesticides residues and other harmful substances.

 
Implementation Status

Project implementation under the STDF grant was completed by 31/12/2013. The project results and dissemination workshop was organized in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, from 10-13 December 2013 and the presentations and report can be viewed on the project website.  21 recommendations were agreed to further strengthen the results of the project in addressing cocoa SPS issues.

 

The five countries involved in the project expressed a strong willingness to pursue the efforts initiated during the project.  They decided to collaborate, exchange and share experiences and to meet on regular basis to review progress. A website has been set up (www.icco.org/sps) to present information on project activities and SPS regulations.

Outgoing Executive Director will be succeeded by Dr. Jean-Marc Anga.

The outgoing Executive Director of the International Cocoa Organization, Dr. Jan Vingerhoets (the Netherlands) has the pleasure to announce that, as from 1 October 2010, he will be succeeded by Dr. Jean-Marc Anga.

angaDr. Anga was appointed by the International Cocoa Council at its 81st regular session in March 2010 to serve as Acting Executive Director of the ICCO for a period of two years, pending the entry into force of the new International Cocoa Agreement on 1 October 2012.  The post of Executive Director of the ICCO holds the rank of Under-Secretary General of the United Nations.

A national of Côte d’Ivoire, Dr. Anga has worked for the ICCO for almost fifteen years.  During the last five years, he served as Director of the Economics and Statistics Division.  His biography is attached herewith.

For further information, please contact Ms. Sarah Sharp, Executive Secretariat Officer (secretariat@icco.org).

Français

Le Directeur exécutif sortant de l’Organisation internationale du cacao, M. Jan Vingerhoets (Pays-Bas), a l’honneur d’annoncer la prise de fonctions de son successeur, M. Jean-Marc Anga, à partir du 1er octobre 2010.

M. Anga a été désigné par le Conseil international du cacao à sa 81ème session ordinaire, en mars 2010, pour occuper les fonctions de Directeur exécutif intérimaire de l’ICCO durant une période de deux ans, jusqu’à l’entrée en vigueur du nouvel Accord international sur le cacao au 1er octobre 2012.  Le poste de Directeur exécutif de l’ICCO a le rang de Secrétaire général adjoint des Nations Unies.

M. Anga, de nationalité ivoirienne, travaille à l’ICCO depuis près de 15 ans et occupait depuis cinq ans le poste de Directeur de la Division économique et des statistiques. Sa biographie est jointe au présent communiqué.

Pour plus de renseignements, veuillez contacter Mme Sarah Sharp, Secrétaire exécutive (secretariat@icco.org).

Espagnol

El Director Ejecutivo saliente de la Organización Internacional del Cacao, Dr. Jan Vingerhoets (Países Bajos) tiene el honor de anunciar que, a partir del 1 de octubre de 2010, su sucesor en el cargo será el Dr. Jean-Marc Anga.

El Dr. Anga fue nombrado por el Consejo Internacional del Cacao en su 81ª reunión ordinaria, celebrada en marzo de 2010, como Director Ejecutivo en Funciones de la ICCO por un período de dos  años, hasta la entrada en vigor del nuevo Convenio Internacional del Cacao el 1 de octubre de 2012.  El puesto de Director Ejecutivo de la ICCO tiene rango de Subsecretario General de las Naciones Unidas.

El Dr. Anga, de Côte d’Ivoire, lleva casi quince años trabajando para la ICCO.  Durante los últimos cinco años, ocupó el cargo de Director de la División de Economía y Estadística.  Se adjunta su biografía.

Para más información, ponerse en contacto con la Srta. Sarah Sharp, Oficial Ejecutiva de Secretaría (secretariat@icco.org).

International Cocoa Council and Subsidiary Bodies, 13-17 September 2010 will take place at Bloomsbury House, 2-3 Bloomsbury Square, London WC1A 2RL.

The meetings will take place at Bloomsbury House, 2-3 Bloomsbury Square, London WC1A 2RL. ….Details of hotels for which the ICCO has corporate rates are attached together with a location map for Bloomsbury House.

The 82nd regular session of the International Cocoa Council, the 142nd meeting of the Executive Committee and the 22nd meeting of the Consultative Board will take place in London. Agendas and Timetable to follow.

ED(mem)918 Timetable
English French Spanish Russian

 

 

 

ICC/82/1/Rev.1 Agenda
English  French  Spanish  Russian

 

 

 

EX/142/1/Rev.1 Agenda
 English  French  Spanish  Russian

 

 

 

CB/22/1/Rev.1 Agenda
 English  French  Spanish  Russian

Live TV Interview by Dr. Jan Vingerhoets, Executive Director to Thomson Reuters

Live TV Interview by Dr. Jan Vingerhoets, Executive Director to Thomson Reuters.

Outcome of the Pilot Project on Price Risk Management for Cocoa Farmers in Côte d’Ivoire

 

 

 

 

A three-day workshop on the outcome of the Pilot Project on Price Risk Management for Cocoa Farmers in Côte d’Ivoire was held from 11-13 May 2010 at the Hotel Ivotel in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

Funded by the Common Fund for Commodities, the Workshop was organized by the International Cocoa Organization in co-operation with the Comité de Gestion de la Filière Café-Cacao and COFORMEX SARL in Abidjan.

The main objectives of the workshop were to discuss the results of the Pilot Project on Price Risk Management for Cocoa Farmers implemented in Côte d’Ivoire between February 2006 and March 2008, to draw the relevant policy implications and to consider the potential for extending the project to Cameroon and Nigeria, two countries that, in common with Côte d’Ivoire, had liberalized their cocoa sectors.

The workshop attracted approximately 100 participants, with representation from the Common Fund for Commodities, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the International Cocoa Organization, private consultants, organizations based in France, South Africa, the Russian Federation and Ghana as well as experts from cocoa co-operatives from Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Togo.

His Excellency Mr. Calice YAPO YAPO, Minister of Commerce of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, was the keynote speaker at the opening ceremony of the workshop, while his counterpart, the Minister of Agriculture, was represented at the closing ceremony of the workshop by his Chief of Staff.

Day 1 of the workshop was dedicated to a review of the implementation of the pilot project, its constraints, results and lessons. Full debate took place among the representatives of local cocoa co-operatives involved in the project and other experts on issues related to training and capacity building in price risk management as well as on technical aspects of the project.

On Day 2, presentations were made by the representatives of the CFC, UNCTAD and other invited speakers on the causes, effects and implications of cocoa price volatility for governments and farmers as well as on the market instruments available to tackle it. Representatives of the cocoa sectors in Cameroon and Nigeria also provided insight on their countries’ problems in trying to address cocoa price fluctuations and the instability of farmers’ incomes. This was followed by an in-depth discussion of the issues concerned by the participants.

The workshop concluded on Day 3 with a field trip for all participants to some cocoa farms and warehouses located outside Abidjan.

The outcome of the Workshop was agreement among the participants on a number of important issues:

  • Firstly, that liberalization of the cocoa and coffee sectors had been implemented without the required necessary preparation, leaving both governments and farmers in cocoa producing countries with insufficient tools to manage the (often excessive and damaging) fluctuations of cocoa prices at international level. Hence a solid capacity-building programme would be required to explain to the relevant stakeholders, in particular to farmers’ representatives and government officials, that instruments exist to assist them to cope better with price fluctuations and the resulting instability of their revenues from exports;
  • Secondly, that governments should create the appropriate institutional, legal and policy framework to make price risk management tools accessible to cocoa farmers through strong and viable co-operatives; and
  • Finally, it was recommended for the governments in cocoa producing countries to consider embracing price risk management as one of an array of options available to them to alleviate the negative effects of the prevailing high levels of instability of world market prices.

icon French version – Press release on Workshop on price risk management in CIV 20.5.10.doc

Decisions of the Meetings of the International Cocoa Council and Subsidiary Bodies, 22-26 March 2010

The 81st regular session of the International Cocoa Council, the 141st meeting of the Executive Committee, the 21st meeting of the Consultative Board on the World Cocoa Economy and the 10th meeting of the Working Group for a future International Cocoa Agreement took place in Yaoundé, Cameroon from 22-26 March 2010 at the generous invitation of the Government of Cameroon.

The main decisions emanating from the meetings were:

  • The extension of the International Cocoa Agreement, 2001 for a period of two years with effect from 1 October 2010;
  • The appointment of Dr. Jean-Marc Anga to serve as Acting Executive Director with effect from 1 October 2010 following the announcement made by the incumbent Executive Director, Dr. Jan Vingerhoets, that he would not be available for a renewal of his contract after 1 October 2010 for personal reasons;
  • The agreement in principle by the Council to consider a revised method of calculating the contributions of the Organization to the Provident Fund for staff in the professional and higher categories, based on a moving average of Pound to Dollar exchange rates;
  • Agreement to consider reducing the dependency of the administrative budget on interest from the Special Reserve Fund, while simultaneously strengthening the Fund;
  • Approval of the project proposal on Integrated Management of Cocoa Pests and Pathogens in Africa for submission to the Common Fund for Commodities for financing;
  • Endorsement of the Capacity Building Programme on Pesticide Residues and Other Harmful Substances in Cocoa in Africa for submission to the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
  • Approval of notification in respect of an International Workshop on the Safe Use of Pesticides in Cocoa and Harmonized Legislation on Food Safety, scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 25-28 January 2011 at the kind invitation of the Malaysian Cocoa Board;
  • As recommended by the Consultative Board, agreement to undertake an independent study, to be funded externally, to examine the costs, benefits, obligations and implementation of cocoa certification, for further review by the Council at its next session in September 2010.
  • Adoption of the text of the final amendments to the new Agreement, as agreed at the meeting of the Working Group for a future International Cocoa Agreement on 25 March 2010, for dispatch to UNCTAD in advance of the United Nations Cocoa Conference in Geneva, scheduled for 21-25 June 2010.

Extension of the International Cocoa Agreement, 2001

At the 81st regular session of the International Cocoa Council, which was held in Yaoundé, Cameroon from 23-26 March 2010 at the generous invitation of the Government of the Republic of Cameroon, the Council approved the extension of the International Cocoa Agreement, 2001.

The text of the decision agreed by the Council is as follows:

The International Cocoa Council

Observing that the International Cocoa Agreement, 2001 entered into force on 1 October 2003 and that, on 30 September 2010, it will have reached the end of the first period of the two year extension following the fifth year of its entry into force;

Noting further that, in accordance with the provisions of Article 63, paragraph 3, the Council may extend the Agreement in whole or in part for two periods not exceeding two cocoa years each;

DECIDES

To extend the International Cocoa Agreement, 2001, in whole, for a period of two years from 1 October 2010, in accordance with the provisions of Article 63;

To request the Executive Director to transmit the present decision to the Secretary-General of the United Nations who acts as depository of the International Cocoa Agreement.”

Appointment of Dr. Jean-Marc Anga to serve as Acting Executive Director with effect from 1 October 2010

Dr. Jan Vingerhoets, the incumbent Executive Director of the International Cocoa Organization announced to the 81st regular session of the Council that he would not be available for a renewal of his contract after 30 September 2010 for personal reasons.

The Council expressed its sincere gratitude to Dr. Vingerhoets for his excellent and hard working service to the Organization over many years and agreed that Dr. Jean-Marc Anga, the incumbent Director of the Economics and Statistics Division of the Organization, would serve as Acting Executive Director for the duration of the current International Cocoa Agreement with effect from 1 October 2010. The full text of the decision taken by the Council in this respect is as follows:

The International Cocoa Council

Observing that the mandate of the incumbent Executive Director expires on 30 September 2010, and that the latter has indicated that he is not available for an extension of his mandate;

Noting further that the current International Cocoa Agreement, 2001 has been extended, in whole, for a period of two years from 1 October 2010, in accordance with the provisions of Article 63;

Considering that, in accordance with the provisions of Article 62, the mandate of the Executive Director may not exceed the duration of the current International Cocoa Agreement, 2001.

DECIDES

To appoint the incumbent Director of the Economics and Statistics Division to serve as Acting Executive Director on an interim basis, with effect from 1 October 2010, for the duration of the current International Cocoa Agreement. This appointment is without prejudice to the incumbent’s existing permanent contract as Director of the Economics and Statistics Division;

To launch, on 1 October 2011, the formal procedure to recruit and select a new Executive Director in accordance with Rule 67 of the Administrative Rules.”

March 2010 Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics

The International Cocoa Organization today releases its first forecasts for the 2009/2010 cocoa year and revised estimates of world production, grindings and stocks of cocoa beans for the 2008/2009 cocoa year, as summarized below. The data published in issue No. 1 – Volume XXXVI – Cocoa year 2009/2010 of the Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics reflect the most recent information available to the Secretariat as at the beginning of February 2010.

Summary of forecasts and revised estimates

 Cocoa year (Oct-Sep) 2008/2009  2009/2010 Year-on-year change
 Previous estimates a/  Revised estimates  Forecasts
(thousand tonnes)  (Per cent)
 World production  3 515  3 560  3 597  + 37  + 1.0%
 World grindings  3 508  3 492  3 579  + 87  + 2.5%
 Surplus/deficit b/  – 28  + 32  – 18
 End-of-season stocks  1 556  1 611  1 593  -18  – 1.1%
 Stocks/Grindings ratio  44.4%  46.1%  44.5%

Notes:
a/ Estimates published in Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics, Vol. XXXV – No. 4 – Cocoa year 2008/09
b/ Surplus/deficit: net world crop (gross crop adjusted for loss in weight) minus grindings
Totals and differences may differ due to rounding.

This issue of the Bulletin contains the Secretariat’s first forecasts for the 2009/2010 cocoa year as well as data for the past four years of production and grindings of cocoa beans, detailed by country. The main features of the global cocoa market are illustrated in colour charts. In addition, the Bulletin includes comments on crop and demand prospects in the leading countries for the current season, and a review of price developments on international markets for cocoa beans during the October – December quarter of 2009.

Statistical information on trade in cocoa beans, cocoa products and chocolate, by country and by region, published in this edition, covers annual data from 2005/2006 to 2007/2008 and quarterly statistics for the period from October-December 2007 to April-June 2009. Details of origin of imports and destination of exports for leading cocoa importing countries are also provided. Historical statistics on cocoa trade and consumption, by country and by region, for the period from 1999/2000 to 2007/2008 are presented for reference.

Copies of the Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics, including Microsoft Excel files and Adobe PDF format can be ordered from the ICCO Secretariat at the address below:

International Cocoa Organization
Commonwealth House
1-19 New Oxford Street
London WC1A 1NU
Tel: +44 (0)20 7400 5050
Fax: +44 (0)20 7421 5500
E-mail: info@icco.org