Associate Bodies

Clearly recognising its role as a link in a broad cocoa and chocolate industry chain, from the origin countries to the retailers, ECA is also intent on maintaining a close rapport with the upstream and downstream participants in the chain, primarily through their respective trade associations.
It does so primarily through its activities and working groups, representative role and communications.

ECA’s principal role is not to promote cocoa or its usage, and nor is it directly involved in any cocoa buying, selling or trading, though obviously its Members are. ECA thus only serves the general public in an ancillary capacity, providing general information on cocoa (history, usage, etc.). To assist the occasional reader, or the non-industry specialist, we here below include appropriate links to other websites, which may more specifically address your needs.

• The FCC (Federation of Cocoa Commerce Ltd, London - www.cocoafederation.com) and the ECA will continue to work closely with all parties that have an interest in the long term development and protection of the cocoa market and those that work within it. In representing the interests of their members the FCC and ECA will have particular regard for the concerns of the cocoa producing countries including the issues of sustainability and the socio-economic conditions of cocoa producers. [joint communiqué]

• CAOBISCO (Association of the Chocolate, Biscuit & Confectionery Industries of the EU, www.caobisco.com) and ECA, in their complementary role, have joint working groups. They equally fund common research on ochratoxin-A (OTA) in conjunction with their participation to the EU Forum on food safety.

• CAOBISCO, FCC and ECA have a tripartite working group on defining comprehensive cocoa (semi-finished) "products" contracts.

• ECA is the only non-brand party within the Global Issues Group (GIG) Steering Committee, addressing the child labour issue on West African cocoa farms. As such, it works closely with such associations as the International Confectionery Association (ICA, www.international-confectionery.com), the Chocolate Manufacturers Association (CMA, www.candyusa.org) and the Confectionery Manufacturers Association of Canada (CMAC, www.international-confectionery.com).

• ECA is a Board member, member of the Executive committee, and acts as Treasurer for the International Cocoa Initiative, a Swiss foundation based in Geneva, Switzerland (website under development).

• WCF (World Cocoa Federation) www.worldcocoafoundation.org.