By Onome Amuge 

Fairtrade International  has updated its cocoa standard with a €450,000 of  internal funding aimed at reinforcing focus on human rights, the fight against deforestation, traceability, and living incomes.

The development, according to the social justice organisation which helps producers in developing countries achieve sustainable and equitable trade relationships, is  targeted at strengthening its impact for farmers and enhancing  sustainable supply chains around the world.

A press statement by the organisation disclosed that the cocoa update  was approved by the Fairtrade Standards Committee and is the result of a rigorous consultation process, combining specific sustainability priorities with progress on living incomes and support for producers. It also aims to strike a balance between robust mandates, regional priorities, and a shared responsibility of compliance between farmers and involved commercial operators.

Fairtrade noted that its standards are reviewed and regularly updated through an inclusive and consultative process initiated and led by Fairtrade International’s Standards Unit, with the participation of key stakeholders in the Fairtrade system, including farmers and farm workers, and then decided upon by the Fairtrade International Standards Committee. The Committee, composed of 50 percent producer representatives, ensures that every decision takes into account the views of all the relevant stakeholders and are in line with Fairtrade International’s mission and policy statements.

The latest registered changes to Fairtrade’s Cocoa Standard, which will take effect in phases over the next two years, raise the bar for the product’s Standard with additional requirements on deforestation; Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD); and traceability and transparency.

The update, according to Fairtrade, also spreads responsibility of compliance between producer organisations and commercial actors, with the latter called on to support producer organizations in prevention of child labour and deforestation where requirements have been strengthened.

It further explained that the current changes are focused on cocoa from Africa and  Asia, and seek to support producers in tackling the known risks in these areas, as well as prepare for other expected requirements, such as through the upcoming African Regional Standard for cocoa, and European Union legislation.

“In addition to prevention and mitigation plan requirements, the adjusted Standard now requires farm geolocation mapping and for prevention and mitigation data to be collected by producer organisations for their own use, and reported to Fairtrade.

Producer organisations are required to prepare measures that include awareness campaigns for their members and apply production practices that have a positive environmental impact. This is expected to curb deforestation in production areas and consequently, improve production,” the statement read.

The HREDD requirements also position farmers as partners in the process of implementing human rights and environmental due diligence, drawing specific attention to the prevention of child labour in cocoa production.

In this regard, the updated Standard encourages producer organisations to implement monitoring and remediation systems more effectively. Sharecroppers and caretaker farmers are also included in the revised standard with required written contracts now providing them with tangible benefits and greater visibility. Moreso, producer organizations will now be required to report back to Fairtrade on their sharecropper and tenant farmers once they reach their third year of certification. Finally, the human rights focus of the update also calls for additional equal opportunity requirements for women, including equal access to training.

On traceability and transparency, the updated standard will now require producers to implement product tracing solutions and clear documentation, enabling ‘first-mile’ traceability. This will allow them to map their members’ farms and trace what they buy from each farmer – an increasingly important capability for cocoa producers as they seek greater oversight of their businesses as well as the possibility of assuring buyers on how and where their cocoa is grown, particularly in relation to human rights issues.

Commenting on the update, Sam Dommer, Fairtrade Foundation’s global product manager for cocoa, said that the programme will be launched with €450,000 of Fairtrade funding and has the potential to grow through contributions by commercial operators and other stakeholders.

Dommer also explained that the latest update reflects the organisation’s continuous commitment to progress and its dedication to the shared goals of producers, businesses, and consumers in preventing child labour and fighting deforestation.