Analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of cocoa certification

This research report conducted by Edmond Konan through GBCC at the request of the ICCO aims to review and critically analyse all relevant literature and studies on cocoa certification. This research included a literature review of the specifications, requirements and impact of existing certification programmes as well as independent studies.The literature on commodity certification has grown significantly since the advent of the concept of sustainability. This varies in quantitative terms depending on the product. Of the three main stimulating crops, coffee, tea and cocoa, the former accounts for the bulk of the studies, i.e. more than 30%. Cocoa has been the subject of only a few studies, less than 20%. These studies cover various themes related to certification, including the typology of standards (52% of the studies), the cost (28% of the studies) and the impact (20% of the studies) of certification.