Contracts and Arbitration Services

CMAA provides the framework for the industry’s standard terms and conditions in the U.S. We offer arbitration services in New York for disputes that may arise using CMAA contracts and/or agreements. The process is a fair, just, ethical and cost-effective resolution of disputes.

Cocoa Supply Chain Management

Increasingly governments and consumers expect businesses, including cocoa merchants, to understand, manage and be transparent about whatever risks may occur along the cocoa supply chain. Risks may include the people who produce cocoa, the environment in which the cocoa is grown, the safety of workers transporting the cocoa or the consumers who purchase our products. CMAA has adopted supply chain management guidelines to help its members address these expectations and create a transparent supply chain.

U.S. Regulatory and Policy

The CMAA navigates complex regulatory issues as a leader through education and forming working relationships with several government agencies including Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Customs and Border Protection Department of Agriculture (CBP AG) and NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).

Warehouse Inspection Program

The CMAA Warehouse Inspection Program (WIP) was established in the early 1990’s to facilitate cocoa warehouses’ efforts to maintain appropriate standards of storage within the requirements of the Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetics Act and all other pertinent Federal, State and Local requirements. As a value-added program the WIP has been updated with the new requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act (“FSMA”) in mind. The program will allow participants to use this updated framework to help with their FSMA food safety plans. Existing CMAA members that wish to participate in the WIP must register separately for the program. Participation is also a requirement of ICE Futures U.S. for exchange licensing warehouses.

Shipping & Transport

Challenges to the import and transportation of goods into the U.S. are increasingly showing up throughout the supply chain. Whether CMAA members are shipping goods in containers, break bulk or trailers, CMAA provides the guidelines for best practices when shipping and transporting to/in North America.

Spot Prices & U.S. Import Statistics

CMAA oversees the administration of a weekly review of spot prices from the CMAA’s Regular members, who actively trade cocoa beans and/or cocoa products. The prices are used by our members, banks and analysts as an independent source of cocoa beans and cocoa products valuation. Members also have easy access to cocoa import statistics which are published by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Industry Relations

CMAA has a strong and active network of members representing companies coming together as a community to discuss and solve various issues that arise from time to time throughout the industry. CMAA maintains working relationships with federal, state and local agencies and partnering with other cocoa organizations as well as other commodities with similar issues.

Social Networking

The CMAA may be best known for its successful networking events. We host various member only events such as educational webinars, seminars, golf outings and receptions. The CMAA International Cocoa Conference is open to non-members but members will enjoy a discount.