STiR coffee and tea magazine

STiR coffee and tea 11 NEWS Inexplicable US Withdrawal Forces ICO Reorganization The withdrawal of the United States from the International Coffee Agree- ment (2007) has forced the International Coffee Organization (ICO) to reorganize due to a funding gap. ICO, based in London and with a staff of 25, is funded by member governments in proportion to their import and export totals. Key contribu- tors on the export side include Brazil, Vietnam, and Colombia. The US is the largest of seven coffee importing members and contributed the largest sum, the European Union is second. Following the June 3 withdrawal date, ICO's finance and administration committee re-assessed the budget. In a statement ICO said 2018 "will be a year of transition" during which the organiza- tion will try to continue providing essential services. Several member countries have increased their contribu- tion to reduce the shortfall. The US did not disclose its reason for withdrawing nor its annual contribu- tion. The US was a founding member of the original 1963 coffee agreement. Are You Old Enough to Caffeinate? Costa Coffee, the world's second largest coffee chain, has introduced a contro- versial policy allowing stores to refuse drinks to anyone under the age of 16. A spokesperson for the company said that Costa "does not encourage the sale of caffeine to children." Children are not banned outright from ordering caffeinated drinks — the decision to serve young people is at the discretion of the store management, according to Costa. The policy was established in late summer but no one challenged it until November when a 12-year-old in Conwy, North Wales was refused an iced coffee. The spokesperson noted that Costa's "advertising is not directed at children and you must be at least 16 to own a Costa Club Card." A Canadian survey published in January found that more than half of those aged 12 to 24 experi- enced adverse side effects from caffeinated drinks. Coffee & Tea Russian Expo Six coffee championships are co-locating at the Coffee & Tea Russian Expo (CTRE) next March including the Nation- al Barista Championships and the national finals for the Tea Masters Cup Russia. The event, scheduled for Mar. 13-15, 2019 in Moscow is the largest of its kind in Russia and the CIS countries. Tasting, brewing, preparation, pairing, mixology, and latte art are all on display, drawing the best representatives of coffee, according to organizers. CTRE expects 130 exhibitors at the Sokolniki Exhibition and Convention Center. Learn more: coffeetearusexpo.ru

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