ISO processes for cocoa
In 2011, the growing confusion surrounding sustainability standards, labels and certification bodies in the cocoa sector led to calls for standardisation.
The aim was to establish a standard for sustainable and traceable cocoa – initially at European level, and subsequently at international level. The three-year period originally set aside for developing such a standard, from 2013 to 2016, proved insufficient and has since been extended.
The ISO standard – the international equivalent of the Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN) – is currently structured as follows
- ISO 34101-1: Management of cocoa bean production
- ISO 35101-2: Performance of cocoa bean production
- ISO 34101-3: Traceability of sustainably produced cocoa beans and derived products
- ISO 34101-4: Sustainable and traceable cocoa certification scheme
Interestingly, this represents the first attempt to incorporate a sustainability standard in the agricultural sector into a standard (both nationally and internationally) and may well mark a milestone for other products in this sector.
The Hamburger Stiftung für Wirtschaftsethik has been actively involved in the process since 2013 as part of the Deutschen Instituts für Normung’s advisory committee.