3.4 Certification

Many of the major chocolate manufacturers now emphasise the need for traceability along supply chains and collaborate with various certification organisations, three of which are described below. 

Early experience revealed how difficult it can be to even maintain labour standards (let alone less ‘visible’ SPS standards) in remote areas, with often complex cocoa supply chains, leaving some to question whether certification is positive for farmers or not. 

The ICCO commissioned a study [1] on the merits, possible disadvantages and costs of certification to farmers with a review of research into its contribution to the ‘sustainability’ of the industry. It was noted that “An average of 89% yield increase in Ghana and 101% in Côte d’Ivoire - which are a consequence of several interventions by certification, such as increased access to pesticide, fertilizer, training and as a consequence good agricultural practices - and a premium [price] per ton, are the strongest levers for the business case.” 

However, farmers often have to commit themselves to an initial outlay (in both money and effort) and concerns have also been raised about the equitability of distribution of premiums – especially to smallholders. 

Larger farmers and cooperatives may benefit from the activities (with somewhat contrasting emphases) of the certification schemes:

CEN-ISO Certification: In 2019/2020 the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published the ISO 34101 standard series for sustainable and traceable cocoa to encourage the professionalisation of cocoa farming [2]. There are four parts to the standard. 

• Part 1: Requirements for cocoa sustainability management systems, focuses on assisting users to implement effective practices to allow them to continually improve their business.
• Part 2 is concerned with performance requirements relating to economic, social and environmental criteria.
• Parts 3 and 4 outline requirements for traceability and certification schemes [3].

The website (https://www.cen.eu/) states: “CEN's activities in relation to food safety are in line with the European Union's objective to achieve the highest possible level of health protection for the consumers of Europe's food. 

EU food safety legislation establishes a cascade of methods that shall be used for official control purposes. Preference is given to methods that comply with internationally recognized rules or protocols, like those described in CEN publications. 

Therefore, a majority of European Standards and other deliverables developed by CEN in the area of Food and Feed are supported by Mandates from the European Commission requesting development of validated methods of analysis of food and feed”. 

Under their ‘Vienna Agreement’ (1991), CEN and ISO aim to avoid duplication of standards.

Fairtrade International (FLO) (https://www.fairtrade.net): is a non-profit, multi-stakeholder association involving 28 member and associate member organizations. 

It sets labour and economic as well as environmental and phytosanitary standards. “Fairtrade Standards include requirements for environmentally sound agricultural practices. 

The focus areas are: minimized and safe use of agrochemicals, proper and safe management of waste, maintenance of soil fertility and water resources and no use of genetically modified organisms. 

Fairtrade Standards do not require organic certification as part of its standards. 

However, organic production is promoted and is rewarded by higher Fairtrade Minimum Prices for organically grown products”. 

They emphasise IPM and the use of pesticides with lower toxicity in their Document for Small Producer Organizations [4].

The Rainforest Alliance (www.rainforest-alliance.org) is an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) founded in 1987 “building an alliance to protect forests, improve the livelihoods of farmers and forest communities, promote their human rights, and help them mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis” [5]. 

Working with a network of environmental groups, farmers must comply with appropriate standards for protecting wildlife, wild lands, workers’ rights and local communities in order to be awarded the certified seal (as illustrated). 

Already linked to the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN: www.sanstandards.org), Rainforest Alliance merged with UTZ in 2018 and released their 2020 Sustainable Agriculture Standard. 

There are three types of farm requirements for enabling and measuring improvement: core, mandatory improvement and self-selected for each focus area including management, traceability, income, farming, social and environment. Agrochemical management predominantly falls under the farming category. 

As part of this standard, Rainforest Alliance also produces a Pesticide Management document listing prohibited and risk mitigation pesticides [6].