Coffee code
industry leaders from the troubled coffee sector are close to finalising the "Common Code for the Coffee Community', an initiative aimed at promoting sustainability in coffee trade. A draft code was released on September 10, 2004, and finalisations would be made by 2004 end. Although the code doesn't directly address the falling coffee prices, which has wreaked havoc on coffee growers, "reasonable earnings over time, for all in the coffee value chain' is anticipated, according to its project paper.
The Common Code is a voluntary market-based framework that outlines practice norms for the production and distribution of green coffee beans. Participating institutions include the International Coffee Organization, the intergovernmental organisation of coffee producers and consumers, non-governmental organisations such as Oxfam International and the Rainforest Alliance, labour unions and four of the five biggest coffee buyers