Summary
This paper analyses opposition to the ‘Common Code for the Coffee Community’ (4C) from producers in India. The authors trace the history coffee certification schemes and codes of conduct, in order to provide the background context for exploration and explanation of the resistance expressed by many producer-country representatives during 4C’s 2005-2006 ‘testing phase’. The paper concludes that many initiatives aiming to advance the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the coffee industry can be viewed as neo-imperialist vehicles for the establishment of consumer-country control over the supply chain. In order to avoid this, they must focus on addressing producer-defined issues rather than reacting to corporate concerns over brand reputation.