Cameroon strengthens cocoa and coffee exports with new regulatory monitoring, sanitary surveillance platform 

CAMEROON – Cameroon has launched a regulatory monitoring and sanitary surveillance platform to enhance the quality and global competitiveness of its cocoa and coffee sectors.  

Officially established on January 19, 2023, the platform is a joint initiative between the government and private sector actors, coordinated through the Cocoa and Coffee Interprofessional Council (CICC). 

The platform’s central mission is to ensure Cameroonian cocoa and coffee meet international sanitary and phytosanitary standards, improving compliance with regulatory requirements in both domestic and export markets.  

It is tasked with identifying key international regulatory sources, monitoring updates to global standards—particularly those involving pesticide residues, mycotoxins, heavy metals, packaging, and mandatory treatments—and issuing timely alerts on potential sanitary and phytosanitary risks. 

In addition, the platform will track product rejections and interceptions by importing countries and carry out regular evaluations of compliance with global quality benchmarks.  

This initiative is part of a broader effort to reinforce Cameroon’s position in the international cocoa and coffee trade through improved quality control. 

Over the past decade, the government has implemented a range of quality enhancement measures. These include establishing post-harvest processing centers designed to produce “zero defect” cocoa and launching a quality-based incentive program.  

Since the 2017–2018 season, this scheme has disbursed approximately 5 billion CFA francs in rewards to top-performing cocoa producers. 

These combined efforts have led to measurable improvements. According to the National Cocoa and Coffee Board (ONCC), the 2020–2021 season recorded the highest volume of quality-controlled beans and the largest percentage of Grade I cocoa in two decades. 

In recognition of these advancements, the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) granted Cameroon admission into the exclusive group of fine cocoa producers in June 2023.  

Fine cocoa is defined by superior post-harvest treatment techniques that preserve taste and aroma. 

“Fine cocoa relates to very good taste and aroma, much like grand cru wines,” noted ICCO Executive Director Michel Arrion.

He emphasized that post-harvest processing, particularly fermentation and drying, is critical to producing fine cocoa, regardless of bean origin. 

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