AmendmentTrade
The Coffee Marketing and Quality Control (amendment) Directive
Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority1106/2025
Summary
This amendment directive modifies the Coffee Marketing and Quality Control Directive No. 1100/2025 by introducing new definitions (QR Code, Electronic method, Scan, Laboratory, Trade Association), requiring coffee exporters to have certified laboratories, specifying qualifications for coffee quality cuppers, adjusting submission requirements for exporter certificates of competency (including electronic submission and personal appearance options), detailing capital requirements for different business structures, and outlining procedures for certificate issuance, renewal, and cancellation. It also restricts individuals or organizations from holding more than one type of exporter Certificate of Competency.
Who's affected
Coffee exporters, including individual exporters, farmer exporters, business associations, and private limited liability companies involved in coffee export.
Action required
Coffee exporters should review the amended provisions to ensure compliance with new requirements for laboratories, qualifications, capital, submission procedures, and certificate renewals.
Key points
8- Amendment to Directive No. 1100/2025.
- Introduction of new terms: QR Code, Electronic method, Scan, Laboratory, Trade Association.
- Requirement for certified coffee laboratories for exporters.
- Specific qualifications for coffee quality cuppers.
- Adjustments to application submission methods (electronic and in-person).
- Revised initial capital requirements for different exporter types.
- Procedures for certificate issuance, renewal, and cancellation.
- Restriction on holding multiple exporter certificates of competency.
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Requirements
11- Coffee exporters (except farmer exporters) must have a qualified coffee laboratory certified by the Authority to conduct basic coffee quality cupping.
- Coffee quality cuppers must be at least 18 years old, possess a diploma, hold a renewed certificate of competency in tasting, and have a specified service experience.
- Each coffee quality cupper can serve only one coffee exporter.
- Applicants for a coffee exporter certificate of competency must submit an application and scanned electronic evidence of meeting requirements, or submit in person if electronic submission is not possible due to system failure.
- Individual applicants for a coffee exporter competency certificate must provide bank-certified proof of at least 15,000,000.00 birr initial capital and one year of financial activity.
- Business associations requesting a certificate must provide proof of 20,000,000.00 birr initial capital and one year of financial activity for at least two shareholders with the highest shareholding.
- Individual private limited liability companies must submit a bank-certified document showing one year's financial activity, subject to initial capital amounts.
- Exporters authorized to issue a Certificate of Competency must physically appear or be represented by a legal representative to present their signature.
- The manager of a business association must be present in person to sign and receive the certificate, unless a legal representative is authorized due to force majeure.
- Coffee exporters who obtain a certificate of competence must enter the business of exporting coffee within one year (except farmer exporters) and renew it within the stipulated renewal period.
- A person or organization engaged in coffee export business shall not have more than one type of exporter Certificate of Competency under the same person.
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Rights and permissions
4- Applicants can submit their application in person if electronic submission is not possible due to system failure or unaccessibility.
- Applicants who object to a decision made by the Authority may submit their complaint in writing within 5 working days, either electronically or in person.
- Legal representatives may sign for the certificate if the manager of a business association cannot appear in person due to specific force majeure circumstances.
- The Authority shall issue a Certificate of Competency with a QR code that is not susceptible to damage.
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Restrictions
4- One coffee quality cupper shall serve only one coffee exporter.
- Coffee exporters (except farmer exporters) must commence exporting within one year of obtaining a certificate of competence.
- Certificates of competency that have been suspended and not rectified within three months of suspension will be cancelled.
- Any person or organization engaged in the coffee exporter business shall not hold more than one type of exporter Certificate of Competency under the same person.
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Penalties
1- Coffee exporter certificate of competency shall be cancelled if the holder has had their certificate suspended and has not rectified deficiencies within three months from the date of suspension.
Objectives
6- To fully incorporate provisions for support, monitoring, and control of coffee exporters.
- To align initial capital requirements with the current coffee market situation.
- To further prevent and control illegal activities carried out using the Certificate of Competency.
- To introduce new definitions relevant to modern coffee trading practices (e.g., QR Code, Electronic method).
- To ensure coffee exporters have qualified laboratories and personnel for quality control.
- To streamline the process of obtaining and managing Certificates of Competency.
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Organizations
3- Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority
- Federal Ministry of Justice
- Ethiopian Commercial Code Proclamation No. 1243/2013
Legal references
3- Proclamation No.1051/2017 article 24 sub 2
- The Coffee Marketing and Quality Control Directive No. 1100/2025
- Ethiopian Commercial Code Proclamation No. 1243/2013
Original sourcehttps://justice.gov.et/en/directives/the-coffee-marketing-and-quality-control-amendment-directive-no-1106-2025/
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