“The Netherlands towards a sustainable purchase of cocoa”
- Marcel Vernooij
The Dutch government attaches high priority enhancing sustainability in
agrofood chains. We focus on those agrochains in which The Netherlands
plays a key role economically, either in terms of our national production
and/or taking into account our contribution in trade. Other criteria are the
willingness of companies to increase the sustainability of their products and
the political and societal concerns.
As such programmes and activities are being developed and implemented,
which include the promotion of sustainable production, trade and
consumption of global agrocommodity chains of among others soy, palm oil
and cocoa.
A fourth part of the processing of the world cocoa is done in The
Netherlands. The Port of Amsterdam is therefore the biggest cocoa port in
the world (600 million tonnes).
The Dutch efforts in cocoa are twofold: active contribution and support for
global efforts in enhancing sustainable cocoa (e.g. through ICCO,
Roundtables for a Sustainable Cocoa Economy, bilateral programmes), as
well as public-private cooperation in order to enhance consumption of
sustainable cocoa products by Dutch consumers. A Letter of Intent has been
signed (attached) by major players in the Dutch cocoa sector, including
targets.
We aim to achieve 100% guaranteed sustainable cocoa consumption by
2025. Considering the results of a market survey to demand and supply of
sustainable cocoa for the Dutch market and a subsequent consultation round,
we are striving for the following intermediate milestones:
2012: all chocolate letters for the Dutch market are from 100% sustainable
cocoa
2015: 50% of all cocoa used in cocoa and chocolate products that are
consumed in the Dutch market to be guaranteed sustainable cocoa
2020: 80% of all cocoa used in cocoa and chocolate products that are
consumed in the Dutch market to be guaranteed sustainable cocoa
All important Dutch stakeholders involved in cocoa signed this letter or sent
a letter of support. At this occasion our former agricultural minister
remarked:
'Never before such a strong coalition of NGO's, companies, trade unions and certifiers signed
a letter of intent with such explicit goals'.
Another Dutch initiative is research, realised with means of the Dutch
Bufferstock fund.
Twenty-two projects in the cocoa and chocolate manufacturing sector aimed
at improving the sustainable development of the sector were realised. These
projects started in the period 2004 – 2007 and most of these projects have
come to a conclusion or are about to be concluded.
Different Dutch and international organisations took responsibility for the
implementation. The projects covered research and development activities,
information supplies, training, education and/or technical assistance. The
aims and objectives of the projects covered one or more of the following
aspects:
a. Capacity building and institutional development in producing countries;
b. Innovations to strengthen the economic institutions of the sector
or improvement of the cocoa product quality (mainly focused on food quality
and safety aspects);
c. Improved livelihoods of growers and workers (and their family members)
in cocoa producing countries; and/or
d. A reduction of the environmental footprint of the sector
The outcomes of the project are summarised and are grouped around the
following themes:

Improvement (genetic) and availability of cocoa planting material

Quality assurance and processing of cocoa

Capacity building in cocoa production countries
You will find a more elaborate description and contact details at
www.duurzamehandel
Letter of Intent
Sustainable cocoa consumption and cocoa production
1
Context Cocoa is highly appreciated by consumers. The production of cocoa and cocoa products
contributes to many jobs and is a major source of income. In producer countries, millions of people
depend on cocoa for their daily livelihood and income.
Global cocoa production is approximately 3 million tonnes, with 25% of all cocoa processing executed in
the Netherlands. We therefore see it as a good signal that all participants in this market support and
contribute to the further sustainability of the international cocoa industry. The Dutch cocoa industry has
an annual turnover of Euro 2.5 billion and generates over 10,000 jobs. In the Netherlands alone, we
consume approximately 37,000 tonnes of cocoa beans: this is equal to nearly 5 kg of chocolate per
person. Possible future scarcity of cocoa on the world market and the quality of cocoa beans is at stake.
Many cocoa farmers can hardly survive and they often lack the resources to improve cocoa production.
The sector faces the challenge of meeting the growing consumer demand for guaranteed sustainably
produced cocoa. Civil society organizations, the cocoa industry, unions and the government have come
together to address sustainability in the cocoa value chain. Objective We, the signatories of this Letter of
Intent, strive to continuing our efforts at an international level to contribute to the revitalization of the
cocoa sector within our own responsibilities and capabilities. In close collaboration with the responsible
authorities we will help improve the lives and incomes of millions of small farmers, in order to build an
attractive cocoa sector for current and future generations. We will continue to contribute to training of
farmers in modern agricultural techniques to promote higher productivity and better quality cocoa. We
support the organization and strengthening of producer groups and improved working and living
conditions. Government, business and civil society will continue to invest in international public-private
cooperation in the cocoa sector. This initiative fits well with - and can serve as a source of inspiration for
– the cooperation occurring around initiatives by the International Cocoa Organization, the Roundtable
for a Sustainable Cocoa Economy and the World Cocoa Foundation. Additionally, we support publicprivate initiatives in the supply chain, in which the Dutch Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) will play an
important role.
To achieve this objective, we will also put our efforts into:
Trust and understanding of consumers and the industry in sustainable cocoa, including reliable
communication on sustainable cocoa to consumers and the sector;
Stimulating further growth of demand for and supply of sustainable cocoa;
Further cooperation between labels, lowering costs for the process of certification, unequivocal
verification, and clarity about joint training for stakeholders in the cocoa chain;
Optimal cooperation in the chain, in order to increase the availability of the right quality and origins of
sustainable cocoa;
Full recognition of and compliance with international labor rights, as defined in ILO Conventions and
OECD guidelines, where appropriate for the cocoa sector.
As part of our international efforts, for the Netherlands specifically, we aim to achieve 100% guaranteed
sustainable cocoa consumption by 2025. Considering the results of a market survey to demand and
supply of sustainable cocoa for the Dutch market and a subsequent consultation round, we are striving
for the following intermediate milestones:
2012: all chocolate letters for the Dutch market are from 100% sustainable cocoa
2015: 50% of all cocoa used in cocoa and chocolate products that are consumed in the Dutch market to
be guaranteed sustainable cocoa
2020: 80% of all cocoa used in cocoa and chocolate products that are consumed in the Dutch market to
be guaranteed sustainable cocoa
The stakeholders will set up a Chocolate Working Group for implementation and monitoring of the
activities, facilitated by IDH and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. They will define
clear rules and agreements. We will further develop this Letter of Intent in a broadly recognized and
concrete action plan; furthermore, each of us will also announce what our contributions are from our
own responsibilities and capabilities. We will have periodic consultations on progress in achieving the
targets. Taking into account future market research and international developments in the demand for
and supply of sustainable cocoa, we can adjust the targets. We will also jointly monitor the embedding of
the principles for sustainable cocoa in the labels as mentioned in the annex, and if necessary, strengthen
them. Finally, we invite others to join with this Letter of Intent. The Letter of Intent is open for signing by
stakeholders in the cocoa sector who are willing to contribute to achieving a sustainable cocoa sector. 3
Annex 1
Terminology
Guaranteed sustainable cocoa: The terms of sustainable development as described by the Brundtland
Commission, creates the framework for cocoa: development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. We use the outcome of
the Second Roundtable for a Sustainable Cocoa Economy (RSCE), "Key elements for a socially
responsible, environmentally and economically sound cocoa sector” (people, planet and profit), as
explained in document RSCE 2 / 7: Draft Principles for a Sustainable Cocoa Economy, namely: 1.
Transparency; 2. Compliance with laws and regulations; 3. Good price for cocoa quality, improved
productivity and incomes for farmers; 4. Access to credit and rural development services, and
diversification; 5. Market access and market information; 6. Decent working conditions; 7. Support for
farmers and labor organizations; 8. Unique land use planning and good infrastructure; 9. Wise
management of natural resources; 10. Conservation and wise use of biodiversity. By guaranteed, we
mean to emphasize that these principles have been put into action in an internationally proven and
externally verifiable way. This may, in principle, include the labels of Rainforest Alliance, UTZ Certified,
Organic and Fairtrade. The interpretations of sustainability are dynamic and improvement of its
utilization remains subject to discussion. Dutch cocoa market: This Letter of Intent focuses on the Dutchchocolate confectionery market, expressed in cocoa bean equivalents. We see the market in 5 main
categories, as defined by “Studiecentrum Snacks en Zoetwaren Benelux”. These are:
Bars, Tablets
Candy Bars including count lines
Small chocolates and bonbons
Dragees and bitesizes
Seasonal Products
Categories such as chocolate and custard, toppings (sprinkles), biscuits, pastries and ice cream also fall
under this term.
Signing parties
Next to the Ministeries of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Economic Affairs and Foreign
Affairs, other signing organisations are:

Initiatief Duurzame Handel (IDH)

Verkade

La Place

Solidaridad

Jamin

UTZ CERTIFIED

FrieslandCampina

FNV bondgenoten

Haven Amsterdam

Albert Heijn

Mars Nederland

Vereniging Biologische Producenten (VBP)

Plus Supermarkten

Oxfam Novib

Rainforest Alliance

Dutch Cacao

Unilever Benelux

Tropical Commodity Coalition (TCC)

Fair Trade

Vereniging Bakkerijen en Zoetwaren

Kruidvat

ORAM

CBL

Ferrero

HEMA

Baronie de Heer
Letters of support were send by

Cargill

Nestlé

ADM

Kraft Foods

Barry Callebaut