Important Cashew News Updates from Cote d 'Ivoire

The cashew sector value chain sector in Côte d’Ivoire underwent some changes over the past couple of weeks; ARECA, the government agency which regulates the cotton and cashew industries in the country, has become le Conseil du Coton et de l'Anacarde.  The newly named body also has a new mission which is to develop the productivity of the entire value chain from production to the processing sector.

The new agency has asked the economic operators involved in the cashew sector to identify themselves and subscribe to requests for a certificate authorizing them to work in the sector.

The Government also published a new regulatory law which prohibits cashew exportation by road, in accordance with the Directorate General of the Ivorian Customs and regulations.

The new regulations mandate that:
- Export of cashew is done only through the ports of Abidjan and San Pedro
- The export of raw cashew nuts operations are carried out only by approved operators as the exporter
- The export of cashew must be submitted to the new agency and authorized prior to shipment

In addition, all operators who received special permission to export cashew by road during the 2013 campaign are affected by the ban. All exports made in fraudulent ways or that violate the new regulations are liable to penalties. The processing sector has also been affected by the new law; Processing plants can only buy up to their declared production capacity of RCN for processing. This measure is preventing processing plants from also exporting RCN.

These measures have been taken to reorganize cashew sector activities in Côte d’Ivoire. Therefore, all cashew companies established in Côte d’Ivoire should be aware of the new regulations and laws.