The International Coffee Agreement 2007

SUMMARY OF:

International Coffee Agreement 2007

Decision 2008/579/EC on the signing and conclusion on behalf of the European Community of the International Coffee Agreement 2007

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DECISION AND THE AGREEMENT?

The agreement aims to encourage the sustainable development of the global coffee sector in economic, social and environmental terms.

The decision adopts the agreement on behalf of the European Community (now the EU).

KEY POINTS

The EU is a member of the International Coffee Organization (ICO) as an international institution, along with 31 importing countries and 45 exporting countries. Signed by the 77 members of the ICO, the International Coffee Agreement 2007 aims to enhance and promote the sustainable development of the worldwide coffee sector through the following measures:

• promoting international cooperation on coffee matters;
• providing a forum for consultation among governments and with the private sector;
• encouraging signatories to develop a sustainable coffee sector in economic, social and environmental terms;
• seeking a balance between supply and demand and fair pricing for both consumers and producers;
• facilitating the expansion and transparency of international coffee trade and promoting the elimination of trade barriers;
• collecting, disseminating and publishing economic, technical and scientific information, statistics and studies on coffee-related issues;
• promoting the development of consumption and markets for all types of coffee, including in coffee-producing countries;
• developing and seeking finance for projects that benefit the world coffee economy;
• promoting coffee quality with a view to enhancing customer satisfaction and benefits to producers;
• supporting the development of food safety procedures in the sector;
• supporting the development of strategies to enhance the capacity of small-scale farmers to benefit from coffee production, which can contribute to reducing poverty;
• facilitating the availability of information on financial tools and services that can assist producers.

In this context, the agreement states that its signatories must try to limit tariff-related and regulatory barriers to coffee consumption, such as preferential tariffs, quotas, government monopolies and subsidies. They must also give due consideration to the sustainable management of coffee resources, in accordance with the principles and objectives on sustainable development contained in Agenda 21 (a United Nations action plan in relation to sustainable development agreed at the 1992 Earth Summit, that was replaced by Agenda 2030 at the 2015 Sustainable Development Summit), and the improvement of the standard of living and working conditions of people working in the coffee sector.

The agreement also requires exporting countries to implement the system of Certificates of Origin established by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) to facilitate the collection of statistics on the international coffee trade, and provide the ICC with any information it judges necessary relating to production, imports, exports, consumption and prices.

Matters governed by the agreement fall within the exclusive competence of the EU under the common trade policy.

FROM WHEN DO THE DECISION AND AGREEMENT APPLY?

The decision has applied since 16 June 2008. The agreement entered into force on 2 February 2011.

BACKGROUND

The International Coffee Agreement 2007 is the seventh agreement of its kind to be signed since 1962 by members of the International Coffee Organization. A previous agreement was signed in 2001. The agreement remains in force for a period of 10 years unless it is extended or terminated before it expires.

MAIN DOCUMENTS

Council Decision 2008/579/EC of 16 June 2008 on the signing and conclusion on behalf of the European Community of the International Coffee Agreement 2007 (OJL 186,15.7.2008, p. 12)

International Coffee Agreement 2007 (OJ L 186, 15.7.2008, pp. 13-29)

last update 08.10.2018