Highlights of ICCO September meetings

The ICCO Consultative Board on the World Cocoa Ecocnomy met on 10 September and discussed several issues including the use of vegetable fats other than cocoa butter in chocolate.  Members were also updated on the preparations for the Roundtable on sustainability to be held in Accra, Ghana from 3 to 6 October 2007.

The meetings of the International Cocoa Council, Executive Committee, Market Committee and Promotion Committee took place at the offices of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) from 11-14 September.  Members deliberated on personnel, administrative, budgetary and relocation matters.

Decisions included approval of the budget and work programme for 2007/2008 and; review and approval of new project proposals for financing.  Members also contributed to a first discussion of a major policy document on cocoa prices and incomes of cocoa farmers.

Mr Askley Delgado (Ecuador), outgoing Chair of the Council, hosted a cocktail party for members in which he was presented with the golden cocoa pod by the Executive Director.  Four (4) chocolatiers, Academy of Chocolate, William Curley, Paul Young and Chantal Coady, mounted a display and offered samples of their products which were well received.

Mrs Irina Medvedeva (Russian Federation) was elected as the new Council Chair and Mr Victor Iyama (Nigeria) as Chair of the Executive Committee for the 2007/2008 cocoa year.