Decisions of the Meetings of the International Cocoa Council and Subsidiary Bodies, 22-26 March 2010

The 81st regular session of the International Cocoa Council, the 141st meeting of the Executive Committee, the 21st meeting of the Consultative Board on the World Cocoa Economy and the 10th meeting of the Working Group for a future International Cocoa Agreement took place in Yaoundé, Cameroon from 22-26 March 2010 at the generous invitation of the Government of Cameroon.

The main decisions emanating from the meetings were:

  • The extension of the International Cocoa Agreement, 2001 for a period of two years with effect from 1 October 2010;
  • The appointment of Dr. Jean-Marc Anga to serve as Acting Executive Director with effect from 1 October 2010 following the announcement made by the incumbent Executive Director, Dr. Jan Vingerhoets, that he would not be available for a renewal of his contract after 1 October 2010 for personal reasons;
  • The agreement in principle by the Council to consider a revised method of calculating the contributions of the Organization to the Provident Fund for staff in the professional and higher categories, based on a moving average of Pound to Dollar exchange rates;
  • Agreement to consider reducing the dependency of the administrative budget on interest from the Special Reserve Fund, while simultaneously strengthening the Fund;
  • Approval of the project proposal on Integrated Management of Cocoa Pests and Pathogens in Africa for submission to the Common Fund for Commodities for financing;
  • Endorsement of the Capacity Building Programme on Pesticide Residues and Other Harmful Substances in Cocoa in Africa for submission to the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
  • Approval of notification in respect of an International Workshop on the Safe Use of Pesticides in Cocoa and Harmonized Legislation on Food Safety, scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 25-28 January 2011 at the kind invitation of the Malaysian Cocoa Board;
  • As recommended by the Consultative Board, agreement to undertake an independent study, to be funded externally, to examine the costs, benefits, obligations and implementation of cocoa certification, for further review by the Council at its next session in September 2010.
  • Adoption of the text of the final amendments to the new Agreement, as agreed at the meeting of the Working Group for a future International Cocoa Agreement on 25 March 2010, for dispatch to UNCTAD in advance of the United Nations Cocoa Conference in Geneva, scheduled for 21-25 June 2010.

Extension of the International Cocoa Agreement, 2001

At the 81st regular session of the International Cocoa Council, which was held in Yaoundé, Cameroon from 23-26 March 2010 at the generous invitation of the Government of the Republic of Cameroon, the Council approved the extension of the International Cocoa Agreement, 2001.

The text of the decision agreed by the Council is as follows:

The International Cocoa Council

Observing that the International Cocoa Agreement, 2001 entered into force on 1 October 2003 and that, on 30 September 2010, it will have reached the end of the first period of the two year extension following the fifth year of its entry into force;

Noting further that, in accordance with the provisions of Article 63, paragraph 3, the Council may extend the Agreement in whole or in part for two periods not exceeding two cocoa years each;

DECIDES

To extend the International Cocoa Agreement, 2001, in whole, for a period of two years from 1 October 2010, in accordance with the provisions of Article 63;

To request the Executive Director to transmit the present decision to the Secretary-General of the United Nations who acts as depository of the International Cocoa Agreement.”

Appointment of Dr. Jean-Marc Anga to serve as Acting Executive Director with effect from 1 October 2010

Dr. Jan Vingerhoets, the incumbent Executive Director of the International Cocoa Organization announced to the 81st regular session of the Council that he would not be available for a renewal of his contract after 30 September 2010 for personal reasons.

The Council expressed its sincere gratitude to Dr. Vingerhoets for his excellent and hard working service to the Organization over many years and agreed that Dr. Jean-Marc Anga, the incumbent Director of the Economics and Statistics Division of the Organization, would serve as Acting Executive Director for the duration of the current International Cocoa Agreement with effect from 1 October 2010. The full text of the decision taken by the Council in this respect is as follows:

The International Cocoa Council

Observing that the mandate of the incumbent Executive Director expires on 30 September 2010, and that the latter has indicated that he is not available for an extension of his mandate;

Noting further that the current International Cocoa Agreement, 2001 has been extended, in whole, for a period of two years from 1 October 2010, in accordance with the provisions of Article 63;

Considering that, in accordance with the provisions of Article 62, the mandate of the Executive Director may not exceed the duration of the current International Cocoa Agreement, 2001.

DECIDES

To appoint the incumbent Director of the Economics and Statistics Division to serve as Acting Executive Director on an interim basis, with effect from 1 October 2010, for the duration of the current International Cocoa Agreement. This appointment is without prejudice to the incumbent’s existing permanent contract as Director of the Economics and Statistics Division;

To launch, on 1 October 2011, the formal procedure to recruit and select a new Executive Director in accordance with Rule 67 of the Administrative Rules.”