The Ivory Coast Coffee and Cocoa Council (CCC) has taken the decision to temporarily suspend its Fairtrade cocoa program, fueling fears of widespread fraud in the industry.

The suspension of Fairtrade came in response to suspicions of fraud. It represents a serious setback for the image and credibility of fair trade, a sector that is increasingly popular with consumers concerned about ethics and the origin of their products. A spokesperson for Fairtrade International style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style”, "serif"> indicated that regulators took this drastic decision in order to prevent any contamination of the program by beans not certified. Challenges facing the cocoa industry in Côte d'Ivoire, the world's largest cocoa producer, as cocoa prices reach historic highs style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style”, "serif"> on global markets.