European Cocoa Association
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Verbände
Organisationsform
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Europäische Union
Organisationskategorie
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01.06.2000
Gründungsdatum
The European Cocoa Association was founded in 2000 with the aim of responding to a number of issues impacting the European cocoa sector:
- On-going globalisation
- Continuing European political and economic integration
- The growing trend of increased regulations in the industry
- Consolidation within the cocoa industry
The ECA Statutes describe ECA’s original mission as being “to study, to research and to implement adequate solutions to any matter affecting the industry, the trading and the logistics of the cocoa sector”, in the broadest sense. Such matters were described as including, but not limited to, “the scientific, technical, documentary, environmental and institutional domains”. In addition, ECA was set-up to promote close cooperation on these matters between its members at European level. Over the years, while this has remained ECA’s core business, the association has also steadily grown its expertise base in other areas highly relevant to the cocoa sector, such as:
- Food contaminants – chemicals, heavy metals, and pesticides
- International Trade – EU trade relations with cocoa producing and consuming countries
- Environment and sustainability – climate change and deforestation, certification schemes, carbon footprint
- A bridge between the EU Institutions and ECA Members
The EU is the largest importer of cocoa from the world’s top producing countries. ECA acts as an intermediary between its members, the EU institutions, producing and consuming national authorities when issues of key concern for the cocoa sector are under discussion at production, trade and consumption levels.
ECA also serves as a senior management-level discussion forum for the broad spectrum of companies directly or indirectly involved in the cocoa chain and is actively engaged in European and International fora related to the industry’s contribution to sustainable cocoa economy.
Our Association is guided by the principles of people + purpose + values. To this regard, our members pave the way to reaching our goals and objectives.
ECA is not involved in any cocoa buying, selling or trading, which are its Members’ activities.
