The International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) is a global organization, composed of both cocoa producing and cocoa consuming countries with a membership. Located in London, ICCO was established in 1973 to put into effect the first International Cocoa Agreement which was negotiated in Geneva at a United Nations International Cocoa Conference. [1] There have since been seven Agreements. The Seventh International Cocoa Agreement was negotiated in Geneva in 2010 and came into force provisionally on 1 October 2012. [2]
The ICCO serves as a platform for stakeholders in the global cocoa industry to discuss topics relevant to international cocoa trade. It is a leading source of cocoa statistics globally, with data spanning nearly 70 years. Additionally, the ICCO offers expertise in cocoa market analysis and forecasting, project development and implementation, as well as capacity-building programs for its member countries.[3]
ICCO Member countries represent roughly 86% of world cocoa production and more than 72% of world cocoa consumption. All Members are represented in the International Cocoa Council, the highest governing body of the ICCO.[4]
The Consultative Board consists of fourteen international experts in the cocoa sector, all from the private sector (seven from cocoa producing Member countries and seven from cocoa consuming Member countries). However, the Board, whose mandate is as extensive as that of the International Cocoa Council and comprises all aspects of the world cocoa economy, only functions in an advisory capacity, as all final decisions are taken by the International Cocoa Council. The Consultative Board was established in recognition of the importance of the private sector in the world cocoa economy and of the increasingly important role that trade and industry have been playing in ICCO.
The ICCO also sets forth definitions within the cocoa industry to establish a common ground. Some notable terms include: Sustainable Cocoa Economy, Ethical Cocoa, Fine Flavour Cacao, and Cocoa year.[5]
| Brazil | Exporting Country | 7 June 2012 | – |
| Cameroon | Exporting Country | 26 March 2012 | Provisional: 24 January 2013 |
| Colombia [7] | Exporting Country | 7 December 2021 | – |
| Congo (Democratic Republic) | Exporting Country | 4 November 2011 | Provisional: 4 November 2011 |
| Côte d’Ivoire | Exporting Country | 20 September 2011 | Approval: 16 May 2012 |
| Dominican Republic | Exporting Country | 9 March 2012 | Provisional: 9 March 2012 |
| Ecuador | Exporting Country | 25 September 2013 | – |
| Gabon | Exporting Country | 18 January 2012 | Approval: 11 June 2013 |
| Ghana | Exporting Country | 19 August 2011 | Ratification: 18 December 2012 |
| Guinea | Exporting Country | 19 June 2012 | – |
| Indonesia | Exporting Country | 12 September 2011 | Ratification: 13 November 2012 |
| Liberia | Exporting Country | 13 November 2012 | Acceptance: 17 January 2014 |
| Madagascar | Exporting Country | 29 December 2015 | Provisional: 29 December 2015 |
| Malaysia | Exporting Country | 5 August 2013 | Ratification: 30 August 2013 |
| Nicaragua | Exporting Country | 15 July 2013 | – |
| Nigeria | Exporting Country | 10 October 2018 | – |
| Papua New Guinea | Exporting Country | 21 April 2016 | – |
| Peru | Exporting Country | 4 March 2014 | Ratification: 12 May 2016 |
| Sierra Leone | Exporting Country | 1 October 2012 | – |
| Togo | Exporting Country | 19 September 2011 | Ratification: 22 June 2012 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Exporting Country | 24 September 2012 | – |
| Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) | Exporting Country | 27 June 2016 | – |
| Austria | Importing Country | – | – |
| Belgium | Importing Country | – | – |
| Bulgaria | Importing Country | – | – |
| Croatia | Importing Country | – | – |
| Cyprus | Importing Country | – | – |
| Czech Republic | Importing Country | – | – |
| Denmark | Importing Country | – | – |
| Estonia | Importing Country | – | – |
| Finland | Importing Country | – | – |
| France | Importing Country | – | – |
| Germany | Importing Country | – | – |
| Greece | Importing Country | – | – |
| Hungary | Importing Country | – | – |
| Ireland | Importing Country | – | – |
| Italy | Importing Country | – | – |
| Latvia | Importing Country | – | – |
| Lithuania | Importing Country | – | – |
| Luxembourg | Importing Country | – | – |
| Malta | Importing Country | – | – |
| Netherlands | Importing Country | – | – |
| Poland | Importing Country | – | – |
| Portugal | Importing Country | – | – |
| Romania | Importing Country | – | – |
| Slovakia | Importing Country | – | – |
| Slovenia | Importing Country | – | – |
| Spain | Importing Country | – | – |
| Sweden | Importing Country | – | – |
| Russian Federation | Importing Country | 1 October 2014 | Ratification: 29 January 2016 |
| Switzerland | Importing Country | 22 December 2010 | Ratification: 12 May 2011 |