Activities
Publication of the European Cocoa Bean Usage Statistics
Since July 2000, ECA has reported quarterly its European Grind Statistics.
From the Q4 2006 report onwards, the statistics include both grinding and
expeller processes, now representing above 97% of the total European usage.
The latest quarter statistics are published on this website at the end of the
first fortnight following the quarter.
Monitoring and Reporting
On behalf of its members, ECA monitors and reports on regulatory
developments of interest to the cocoa sector. These cover a variety of areas:
from food safety and quality to transport, customs and tariff agreements.
ECA members are informed of developments through the association’s Extranet.
Scientific Research
ECA is involved in various research programs (e.g. on OTA, PAH, Pesticides). These are either undertaken by ECA alone, as was the case for the ‘Smouldering of Cocoa Beans' study, or together with others, such as CAOBISCO, ICCO, the Ghana Cocoa Board, contracting with scientific research agencies like CABI (U.K.), CIRAD (France) or LANADA (Ivory Coast). The results of some of this research have already positively affected the cocoa business community.
Responsible and Sustainable Cocoa
The chocolate and cocoa industries have been working for many years with farmers to improve their standard of living through a sustainable cocoa economy. Through its active participation in a number of bodies, ECA ensures its members’ CSR activities are relayed to the wider stakeholder community. Cocoa sustainability, and responsible behaviour in the cocoa supply-chain cover aspects as varied as good agricultural practices, fair labour practices and income generation.
Cocoa Products Standard Contracts
Early 2002, ECA initiated the creation of a working group in charge of defining comprehensive cocoa (semi-finished) "products" contracts, to fill a commercial void. The joint ECA-CAOBISCO-FCC has since published contracts CP1 (Liquid Products) and CP2 (Packed Products, Buyer's call) under the FCC banner.
International Cocoa Event:
In addition to its Board and bi-annual General Members Meetings (GMM), ECA organizes International Cocoa Events. These 3-day events, initiated in September 2002, gather the whole international cocoa community and are based on a new innovative concept blending leisure and business times. Find out more on Concoction 2002, Concoction 2005 and Concoction 2007.
The next edition of this important meeting will take place in Amsterdam in September 2010.
Newsletters and Extranet
ECA publishes quarterly Newsletters and regular Updates on its members-only Extranet.