June 3rd 2024

Key updates

Supply Chain Shortage Exception for Orange Juice Certificate Holders

Due to concerns about a potential shortage of supply, RA has provided actors within the orange juice supply chain an exemption from implementing requirement 2.3.1, which allows volumes to be converted for a process that can occur only in reality. The exception specifically allows the conversion of mass balance volumes of frozen Concentrated Orange Juice (FCOJ) to Not From Concentrate juice (NFC).

The exception also outlines that orange juice CHs can apply for an additional timeframe where shortages in the supply chain may occur (longer than 6 months and up through the 2025 harvest season). 

Please see the Orange Juice Exception here.

Temporary adjustment to our tea traceability approach

A temporary adjustment to our tea traceability approach has been communicated to Certificate Holders on the 31st of May (tea processor letter here, all other tea CH and CB letter here). These adjustments were needed as significant amounts of tea royalty and SDSI for farmers could not be invoiced. The aim of the temporary adjustment is to advance both royalty and SDSI payments over the coming months. 

As an immediate adjustment,  RA has asked all Tea Certificate Holders to pause the use of Multitrace until further notice. As of 1 June 2024, CH are no longer required to record any transactions or activities such as processing in the system. For details see this Tea Policy: Online Traceability Exception for Tea Certificate Holders | Rainforest Alliance (rainforest-alliance.org). 

Instead, all Certificate Holders that are first processors or packers are required to submit a data form (https://form.jotform.com/241433397317054) on quarterly basis, sharing with RA information about volumes purchased, processing activities performed and volumes packed. 

A team at RA is recording this information in MultiTracea to trigger the invoicing of RA Royalty and SDSI for farmers. The first data form needs to be submitted latest 15 July, detailing information for the years 2022, 2023 and Q1/2024. All subsequent data form are due latest 14 days after the end of each quarter. 

This Policy does not apply to Herbs and Spices (i.e. herbal tea).

Certification media coverage

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) highlighted the Rainforest Alliance’s fieldwork in Côte d'Ivoire to help farmers adapt to the EUDR, following a field trip arranged by the media and CDI teams. WSJ is the world's leading business publication, attracting 109M unique monthly visitors across all its platforms. Additionally, our Cocoa Sector Lead, Kerry Daroci, and our Senior Director Global Programs, Kwame Osei, were extensively quoted in a long-form article on Climate Change News about the future of chocolate. Climate Change News is a reputable platform providing comprehensive coverage, analysis, and commentary on global climate politics, reaching an average of 160K visitors monthly.

• Wall Street Journal (behind pay wall): https://www.wsj.com/world/european-union-chocolate-law-sustainability-c50af921
• Wall Street Journal article on MSN (no pay wall): https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/why-cocoa-farmers-are-gps-mapping-where-their-beans-are-grown/ar-BB1mGNOq
• Climate change news: https://www.climatechangenews.com/2024/05/23/can-the-rising-cost-of-chocolate-help-cocoa-producers-go-green/

Please connect with Darla van Hoorn / the media team for more information.