In the Harkin-Engel Cocoa Protocol of 2001, the cocoa and chocolate industry made a commitment to establish a system to certify that cocoa beans and their products are being produced under fair labor conditions - particularly without using child labor or forced labor.

The ICVB is independent of industry and governments and is funded by the industry.

“Verification is an essential step in assessing labor conditions in cocoa-growing communities in West Africa. The ICVB holds the strong conviction that accurate data will help guide strategic planning and programming to effectively address potential areas of concern, including child and forced adult labor.”

For more information about ICVB, visit www.cocoaverification.net