GLOBAL CHOCOLATE, COCOA INDUSTRY RESPONDING TO CHALLENGES OUTLINED IN LABOUR PRACTICES SURVEY
July 2002
Moving Forward to Ensure Children Are Not Harmed in Growing of Cocoa
The global chocolate and cocoa industry today is responding to the issues outlined in the release of “Summary of Findings from the Child Labor Surveys in the Cocoa Sector of West Africa,” and will use the survey results to focus efforts aimed at eliminating abusive child and forced labour practices in the growing and harvesting of cocoa.
“This unprecedented study confirms the need to address the safety of children on cocoa farms and the economic well-being of cocoa farming families, and supports our efforts already underway,” said Bob Eagle, spokesman for the BCCCA (Biscuit, Cake, Chocolate & Confectionary Alliance). “The findings will provide us with a guide to action as we work with our partners to ensure that cocoa is grown safely, responsibly and in a way that does not place children at risk.”
The chocolate/cocoa industry has been working with farmers to educate them on safe growing practices, integrated pest management and other farming techniques.
These efforts will be expanded upon as the industry partners with government agencies, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and other organisations to develop a series of pilot programmes to implement and assess different possible solutions. The pilot programmes will be implemented throughout West Africa in September, in time for the next cocoa harvest.
The release of the summary findings follows the establishment of a joint foundation by industry and stakeholders to ensure that cocoa is grown responsibly. The “International Cocoa Initiative – Working Towards Responsible Labour Standards for Cocoa Growing” will act as a catalyst for change and progress – by focusing the best research, expertise and ideas on this critical issue.
The International Cocoa Initiative will:
- Support field projects and act as a clearinghouse for best practices that help eliminate abusive child and forced labour in the growing of cocoa
- Develop a joint action programme of research, information exchange and action to enforce internationally-recognised abusive child and forced labour standards in the growing of cocoa
- Help determine the most appropriate, practical and independent means of monitoring and public reporting in compliance with these labour standards
“While the amount of information contained in the survey is considerable, there can only be one conclusion: we must – and will – do everything we can to ensure that children are not harmed in the growing of cocoa,” Bob Eagle continued. “We share with our partners an unwavering commitment to eradicate child and forced labour from the cocoa fields.”
Background:
The Biscuit, Cake, Chocolate and Confectionery Alliance (BCCCA) is one of the food industry's largest trade associations. The great majority of UK companies manufacturing “Alliance products” are members, and it has been estimated that something like 90% of all biscuit, chocolate and sugar confectionery products made in the UK are the products of Alliance members. Membership is open to manufacturers of any of the products listed in our title. BCCCA is a member of CAOBISCO, the Association of the Chocolate, Biscuit and Confectionery Industries of the EU.
