NCA Member Alerts
Top-level updates on what's happening in coffee, straight to your inbox.
NCA Member Alerts focus on important developments in key issues facing NCA members and the entire industry. These alerts cover topics such as government regulations, science, health, market data, and more.
As a benefit of membership, alerts are sent directly to NCA Members and posted here for future access.
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Most Recent Member Alerts
09/18/2024 - Talks between the unionized Gulf and East Coast dockworkers, represented by the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA), and employers, represented by the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), broke down in June. The NCA has joined with over 175 other trade associations in signing a letter sent to President Biden yesterday, encouraging “his administration to immediately work with both parties to resume contract negotiations and ensure there is no disruption to port operations and cargo fluidity if a new contract is not reached by the expiration date."
09/10/2024 - Against the complicated landscape of food product labeling, recently passed laws in Hawaii create further legal requirements for any coffee company selling coffee labeled as Hawaiian, especially blends of Hawaiian and other coffees. Whether or not that coffee is sold in Hawaii, companies not in compliance could face legal risks. The latest addition to NCA’s labeling-related member resources focuses on the Hawaiian regulations and the considerations for any coffee company that is selling and intends to sell Hawaiian coffee.
08/28/2024 - The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) enacted the Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) Final Rule to protect this growing sector, and if you are selling or handling organic coffee, you need to be compliant with the Rule. We’re making it easier. We’ve condensed the sprawling, 80-page SOE Rule into an easy-to-understand, coffee-specific guide to help you mitigate your supply chain risk and disruptions.
08/22/2024 -The EU Deforestation Regulation (“EUDR”) enters into force at the end of 2024 and aims to “guarantee that the products EU citizens consume do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation worldwide.” With that in mind, we provide the following update on the EUDR and its implications for the U.S. coffee market.
08/21/2024 - As the governing body of the association, the NCA Board of Directors is responsible for setting strategic direction, as well as policies, fiscal and otherwise, to ensure the Association’s continued success, despite what challenges may come. If your background and experience have prepared you for a role on the NCA Board, now is the time to apply.
08/08/2024 - Earlier this year the FDA published a wide range of proposed updates, including some for coffee. NCA has filed two extensive, science-backed responses to proposed revisions to the FDA’s Draft Guidance for Industry: Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls (HARPC) for Human Food.
05/28/2024 - Businesses in the coffee industry are frequent targets of class action lawsuits focusing on improper or misleading labeling.To meet the urgent need for up-to-date guidance in this area, NCA benefits now include the article “Staying Out of Hot Water: The Latest Trends in Product Labeling Class Actions and How to Manage the Risk.”
03/12/2024 - NCA is responding to two recent attacks by activist groups. In both cases, the goal of these attacks is to ban decaffeinated coffee processed with methylene chloride, which accounts for the majority of the decaf market – a process referred to over the years as “the European-Method” of decaffeination.
12/12/2023 - To meet the urgent need for guidance through the complicated topic of FSVP compliance, the National Coffee Association has produced an all-new NCA Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) ToolkitProgram (FSVP) Toolkit, addressing rules, requirements, and regulations pertaining to green coffee.
11/16/2023 - If your company handles or intends to handle organic coffee, it is important that you are aware of some critical changes to the USDA’s organic rules and compliance requirements. NCA is developing resources for the exclusive use of NCA members to specifically support compliance by coffee companies with the new organic rules.
11/07/2023 - We are pleased to announce the newest addition to the 2023 NCDT Market Research Series - the Instant, Flavors, and Additives Consumer Insight Report. This report, prepared by our research partners at DIG Insights, is available exclusively to NCA Members who subscribe to the NCDT Market Research Series.
11/02/2023 - Thanks to Scientific Affairs Contributions by NCA members, the NCA’s Science Leadership Council was able to commission a comprehensive microbial challenge study to answer an important question about cold brew safety: whether pathogen growth or toxin formation could occur in cold brew coffee prepared, held, or dispensed in a retail or food service setting.
The resulting white paper concludes that black cold brew does not support toxin formation or growth of the common pathogens tested for in the study.
10/24/2023 - For the first time since 2015, the National Coffee Association has commissioned original research from the experts at Technomic to measure the many ways coffee contributes to the U.S. economy.
U.S. Coffee Impact Report
10/11/2023 - Today we announce the addition of a new member benefit: a database of Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for high-priority crop protectants that may be associated with coffee.
To further serve our members directly involved in the coffee supply chain, NCA has developed the MRL Database with the support of industry experts specializing in crop protectant regulation across multiple countries and supply chain sectors.
9/19/2023 - We are pleased to announce that the latest edition of our NCDT Market Research Series is available now, with over a hundred pages worth of actionable data for your coffee business. NCDT data is used by the media, investors, government, NGOs, analysts, and coffee companies everywhere as an objective baseline for the industry and to assist in their planning. In recent years, we’ve made this data more user-friendly than ever before.
9/13/2023 - Yesterday, NCA President and CEO William “Bill” Murray testified before the U.S. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) to emphasize the health benefits associated with drinking coffee. This is only the most recent step in a multifaceted effort by NCA to achieve a greater and more formal recognition of coffee’s health benefits. This message is vitally important as consumers increasingly factor health considerations into their decisions.
8/16/2023 - Today we announce the addition of a new member benefit: Safety Data Sheets for your coffee operation. If you handle, store, process, or transport green or roasted coffee, you must have the proper Safety Data Sheet(s) on file. We’ve created an NCA resource to make it easier to comply with this obligation.
8/10/2023 - If you are seeking a leadership position with the #1 trade group representing the U.S. coffee industry, this is your opportunity! There will be two open seats on the NCA Board of Directors beginning in March 2024, each for a two-year term of service.
5/9/2023 - Today we are proud to announce the 2023 National Coffee Data Trends Specialty Coffee Consumer Insight Report. Produced in collaboration with the Specialty Coffee Association, the 2023 Specialty Coffee Consumer Insight Report explores the consumer behavior and trends at the heart of the specialty coffee category.
4/18/2023 - The National Coffee Association is conducting a study to measure the total economic impact of coffee in the United States, a crucial tool for our advocacy work in Washington. The purpose of this Member Alert is to provide you with background on this project and to request your coffee business’s assistance in completing a survey to provide data that will be crucial to the success of the project.
4/4/2023 - Today we are pleased to announce the arrival of the Spring 2023 National Coffee Data Trends report. There is a lot to unpack in the over 100-page report, but one key finding is that while the pandemic did not change how much coffee Americans drink, it has had lingering effects on where they drink it. 35% had coffee away from home in January 2023 – up from a low of 31% in January 2021, but down from 41% in January 2020, just before the pandemic hit in full force.
3/2/2023 - For many years, the coffee industry has been fighting misguided efforts in the State of California to have coffee labeled as potentially cancer-causing, under provision of California’s infamous “Prop 65.” While NCA led efforts in Europe -- with the UN’s World Health Organization, and in Sacramento, appearing before regulators to argue that coffee should receive a specific exemption from Prop 65 -- numerous coffee companies fought a protracted legal battle. On February 15th, 2023, the California Supreme Court issued a decision that brings to a definitive close this longstanding legal battle.
2/23/2023 - The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently revised the National Organic Program (NOP) standards to protect the integrity of the organic sector and reduce fraud. They issued the Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) rule in response to these challenges. Changes to the rule are significant and the mandatory compliance date is by March 19th, 2024.
2/15/2023 - Labeling regulations for food, including coffee, are rapidly evolving – and NCA is staying on top of the changes so you can remain compliant and avoid a package redesign, costly recall, or worse -- litigation. We recently made updates to our definition and guidance for Single Origin, which many coffee companies use on their product packaging.
2/13/2023 - NCA is again supporting a legislative proposal that could enhance U.S. government federal funding for research into combatting coffee pests and diseases in Hawaii. Should funding be approved, the resulting research would benefit coffee farmers everywhere who are combatting the same pests and diseases.
2/9/2023 - There are ongoing legislative and compliance developments relating to state legislation (recent and proposed) concerning PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and food packaging materials that may have the potential to impact your business.
2/8/2023 - We are excited to announce the arrival of our Cold Brew & RTD Data Trends Report, an all-new National Coffee Data Trends breakout report available free for 2023 NCA members. In this report, our market research partners at Dig Insights have taken a fresh look at the rapidly growing cold brew and ready-to-drink segments of the coffee industry.
1/25/2023 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently seeking public comments as it reviews criteria for foods eligible to be labeled as “healthy,” and has specifically asked if coffee should formally qualify to use the “healthy” label. NCA is asking our members to submit letters of support for designating coffee as healthy.
1/5/2023 - A message from Bill Murray, NCA President & CEO. As the world of coffee grew even more complex last year, your support made it possible for us to continue serving you with the tools and resources you need. As we look ahead to the coming year, we'll provide a glimpse of some of what you can expect from us.
11/8/2022 - We are excited to announce the arrival of the Fall 2022 National Coffee Data Trends Generational Report, an all-new breakout report exclusive to NCA members who have subscribed to the NCDT Market Research Series. The 2022 NCDT Generational Report takes a closer look at coffee consumption preferences and patterns for Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Baby Boomers and highlights emerging opportunities to connect with coffee drinkers across generations.
11/1/2022 - There are exciting opportunities in the near future for more formal government recognition of coffee’s health benefits. At the same time, there’s recent good news out of California about a long-standing court case regarding coffee, acrylamide, cancer, and Prop 65. Taken together, these developments show that slowly but steadily, perceptions of coffee and health are changing
10/26/2022 - U.S. government sanctions on Nicaragua are growing. Even though these sanctions do not, at this time, specifically pertain to coffee, any company doing business with organizations or individuals on the sanctions list should assess these relationships and take necessary steps to maintain compliance.
10/5/2022 - An update on the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s (NJDEP) Air Toxics Rule and its potential impacts on our industry.
9/6/2022 - We are pleased to announce that Kellem Emanuele has joined the NCA as our new Vice President of Operations. In this newly created role, Kellem will oversee the day-to-day operations of NCA and will be instrumental as we implement our 2023-2025 Strategic Plan to further enhance coffee’s reputation and increase coffee consumption through education, advocacy, connection, and community.
8/3/2022 - Our research partners at Dig Insights have prepared a new report titled The Great Inflation: Navigating Evolving Consumer Behaviors Through Inflation which we are passing along as a service to you, our members.
8/1/2022 - We are pleased to report that following this industry action led by World Coffee Research, NCA members, and other key stakeholders, our requests were included in the Senate version of the FY2023 appropriations bill.
7/15/2022 - NCA calls on Senate Appropriations committee to substantially fund critical coffee research, tools, and technologies to help coffee farmers thrive.
6/21/2022 - NCA President & CEO William "Bill" Murray recently traveled to London to meet with a coalition of international coffee leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing our industry.
6/8/2022 - NCA's all-new guide for brewing, storing, and serving cold brew safely in a retail environment.
5/19/2022 - NCA determined to further enshrine coffee’s role in healthy diets in the forthcoming official Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), a set of recommendations from the U.S. Government compiled every five years regarding healthy eating and drinking.
3/17/2022 - 66% of Americans now drink coffee each day, more than any other beverage (including tap water) and up by nearly 14% since January 2021 -- the largest increase since NCA began tracking data.
1/19/2022 - An update on the situation regarding a rule on fumigants, fumigation, and permitting proposed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) that, while well-intentioned, would adversely affect green coffee operations – and the entire supply chain – in New Jersey and surrounding states.
1/5/2022 - Regretfully, and despite efforts by Members of Congress, Ethiopia’s eligibility for AGOA was terminated on December 23, 2021 with an effective date of January 1, 2022. Guinea and Mali were also terminated as beneficiaries of the program.
1/4/2022 - A new year has brought new food safety compliance regulations of which we want our membership to be aware.
12/21/2021 - The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has proposed a rule on fumigants, fumigations, and permitting that could have a severe, negative economic and logistical impact on the green coffee businesses in New Jersey and the surrounding region.
12/16/21 - A messge to NCA Members from NCA President and CEO William "Bill" Murray.
11/19/2021 - The European Union is currently drafting three new ambitious sustainability initiatives as part of the European Green Deal. These provisions, which address soil health, deforestation, and waste management, would not directly impact U.S.-based coffee operations, but may impact E.U. suppliers and serve as a model for future legislation in the U.S.
11/5/2021 - This week, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an emergency temporary standard (ETS) to protect workers from coronavirus. The ETS applies to any employer with more than 100 workers, meaning it would apply to many NCA members.
11/3/2021 - Many of us share concern over the growing unrest in Ethiopia, the innocent civilians impacted by the civil war and the growing humanitarian crisis that continues to unfold. Directly related to this situation, yesterday the Biden Administration issued a statement regarding the U.S. Government’s intent to remove Ethiopia from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade preference program on January 1, 2022 in response to “gross violations of internationally recognized human rights being perpetrated by the Government of Ethiopia.”
10/13/2021 - On October 6, 2021, the Fostering Overseas Rule of Law and Environmentally Sound Trade (FOREST) Act was introduced in the U.S. Congress. The aim of the legislation is to create a framework for the U.S. Government to deter illegal deforestation driven by the production of certain “covered commodities:” palm oil, soybeans, cattle, cocoa, rubber, and wood pulp.
9/10/2021 - Over the past year, the ICO has been particularly active in looking at policies and programs that support improved farmer livelihoods in ways that respect sustainable farming practices. The ICO is now seeking tenders for the creation of a “Coffee Market Development Toolkit” intended to help spur stronger markets for coffee, building upon similar work done by the ICO in 2004.
Labeling
7/27/2021 - Recent class action lawsuits have targeted major coffee brands and retailers over the improper labeling of coffee products. Here's what you need to know.
6/9/2021 - New legislation recently signed into law by the Biden Administration requires the mandatory labeling of sesame as a food allergen on food and beverage packaging.
Tariffs
U.S. and E.U. agree to 5-year truce protecting coffee from retaliatory tariffs
6/21/2021 - NCA would like to thank our members and industry partners who joined us in urging the U.S. Government to keep coffee off the list of retaliatory tariffs and helped us protect our sector.
Following Industry Action, Coffee Removed from Retaliatory Tariff List
8/13/2020 - Due in no small part to our collective industry action objecting to these harmful proposals, coffee has been largely spared from the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)’s updated list of products subject to 100% retaliatory tariffs.
NCA Action Opposing Newly Proposed Tariffs on Roasted, Decaffeinated, and Instant Coffee
7/15/2020 - The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is considering applying up to 100% tariffs on instant, roasted and decaffeinated coffee imports from European Union (EU) countries and the United Kingdom (UK) due to an ongoing trade dispute. NCA will be filing opposition to these proposed tariffs before the July 26, 2020 deadline for public comment. We urge you to join us in opposition by filing your own comments with USTR.
Advocacy
6/17/2021 - NCA members are engaged in a wide array of sustainability-related efforts, such as those captured by the Sustainable Coffee Challenge. Despite this growing support, there is – and always will be – more to do, especially as the global demand for coffee is forecast to grow in the decade ahead.
National Coffee Data Trends
4/1/2021 - Special pricing and feaures exclusive to NCA Members.
Covid-19
1/20/2021 - How the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines may impact those working in the coffee industry, which has been deemed "critical infrastructure" by the U.S. government.
U.S. Dietary Guidelines
12/29/2020 - The Dietary Guidelines for Americans released today (Tuesday) reaffirm that coffee can be part of healthy diets, which is great news for the two-thirds of Americans who drink coffee each day, more than any other beverage.
8/11/2020 - Building on our previous advocacy efforts to ensure coffee stays recognized as the healthy beverage it is, this week the NCA vigorously opposed the 2020 DGAC report in oral testimony and in comments submitted to the Secretaries of HHS and Agriculture.
Decaf
10/28/2020 - NCA issues alert about misleading story set to air on ABC News.
Organic Enforcement
10/2/2020 - NCA files comment with the USDA in opposition to proposed rule changes to organic enforcement standards that would prove onerous for many in the coffee supply chain.
NCA Year in Review
NCA Year in Review
9/23/2020 - NCA CEO Bill Murray reviews the challenges coffee faced in 2020, how NCA responded, and opportunities for the industry and association in 2021.
Prop 65
8/26/2020 - A California judge on Tuesday affirmed the state of California’s May 2019 ruling that coffee is not subject to the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, commonly known as Proposition 65.
Coffee and Health
American Cancer Society: Coffee Reduces Cancer Risk
6/10/2020 - Drinking coffee reduces the risk of multiple types of cancer, according to new American Cancer Society (ACS) guidelines for lifestyles that lower cancer risk.
Study: Coffee May Reduce Risk of Depression by up to One-Third
5/12/2020 - A new meta-analysis of independent research has shown that coffee drinkers are less likely to be depressed than non-drinkers, and that coffee may reduce depression risk by up to one-third.
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Urge Gov. Cuomo to Clarify the Safe Use of Break Rooms and Vending Services in New York
6/1/2020 - As office-based work resumes, New York State officials have issued conflicting advice about whether - or how - to reopen office break rooms. The resulting confusion could actually have a negative impact on public health by forcing employees to leave their work premises and therefore have more social contact than they would by remaining on premises in a safe, controlled break room or lunch facility.
NCA Statement: Coffee is Safe to Drink
5/20/2020 - Coffee itself has never been considered to be a means of coronavirus transmission. While there may be practical differences in how and where we enjoy our coffee, coffee is, and will continue to be, safe to drink.
COVID-19 Resources: State Regulations, Sick Leave, and Economic Relief
3/27/2020 - This week we made some important updates to our COVID-19 Resource Center relating to state and local restrictions, newly-enacted sick leave rights for employees and requirements for employers, and economic relief measures to help workers and businesses hurt by the pandemic.
FAQ and Resources: Coffee and the 2019 Novel Coronavirus
3/17/2020 - To aid our members and the public in understanding what the 2019 novel coronavirus means for the coffee industry, we have assembled a coffee- and food-focused FAQ to help shed light on how to better protect yourself and your coffee business from this new threat.
Business Continuity – “Safe Passage” Letter
3/22/2020 - In the face of widespread confusuion over which employees are considered "essential" and exempt from state and local shelter-in-place or similar orders limiting public gatherings, we have provided a sample letter that companies may give their employees to carry when traveling to or from work.
DHS: Food & Beverage Industry Considered Part of Nation's "Critical Infrastructure"
3/20/2020 - Following calls for clarity from the NCA and food industry leaders, DHS has issued guidance clarifying food and agriculture's role in the naiton's critical infrastructure.
Update on NCA Operations and Available Resources
3/19/2020 - An overview of what the NCA is doing to support our Members during the COVID-19 crisis, including links to available resources.
NCA, Food Leaders to Officials: Keep Store Shelves Stocked During COVID-19 Crisis
3/18/2020 - Today the National Coffee Association and other food, beverage, and consumer packaged goods leaders asked elected officials to help ensure an adequate supply of essential goods during the COVID-19 crisis.
NCA Statement on Coronavirus and the Coffee Supply Chain
3/11/2020 - We at NCA want to provide you with the latest information and resources on the coronavirus and possible impacts to the coffee industry and steps your organization can take to prepare.
Coffee and Health
NCA Submits Comments to Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee
2/7/2020 - The NCA routinely submits comments to the DGAC backed by the latest peer-reviewed research on coffee and health. This week the NCA, in consultation with the NCA Science Leadership Council (SLC), submitted new comments to further highlight coffee’s popularity and role as a healthy beverage in the American diet.
Tariffs
USTR Makes Decision Regarding Coffee's Removal from Retaliatory Trade List
2/17/2020 - On January 9th we wrote seeking your assistance for our efforts to have coffee excluded from the list of products that were facing the prospects of tariffs of up to 100%; these tariffs would have affected instant, roasted, and roasted decaffeinated coffee from the EU.
Help Us Remove Coffee from U.S. Tariff Retaliation List
1/9/2020 - As part of a trade dispute involving Boeing, Airbus, and aircraft manufacturing subsidies, certain coffee exports from Europe to the US have been targeted for retaliation in the form of duties that could range up to 100% of the declared value of the imports. You can help fight these duties by sending a short note to Washington to protest this move.
Labor
NCA Response to Allegations of Child Labor in Guatemalan Coffee Farms
3/2/2020 - The U.S. coffee industry is a leader in developing and implementing industry standards that help coffee-growing communities thrive as safe homes for coffee farmers, their families, and most especially their children.
NCA
NCA Next
10/21/2019 - Coffee's challenges and opportunities in 2020 and beyond require ambition and investment at greater scale than ever before. None of us can match that scale alone, which is why NCA is committed to serving as the voice of coffee's future and the future of coffee's voice.
Tariffs
New Tariffs on German Coffee Imports
10/7/2019 - A recent ruling by the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the European Union (E.U.) over illegal loan subsidies to Airbus has paved the way for the Trump Administration to impose new duties on about $7.5 billion worth of goods, including some coffee products imported from Germany.
Glyphosate
Glyphosate and Coffee
9/27/2019 - You may have seen reporting this morning regarding the detection of small amounts of the widelyused, EPA-approved herbicide glyphosate in green coffee beans. Although the amounts detected were within regulatory limits, this reporting has caused concern for some members.
Tariffs
Update on Proposed Tariffs on E.U. and China Coffee Imports
9/26/2019 - Since early 2019, the NCA has been reporting on the escalation of proposed tariffs and duties assessed against coffee imports. The proposed tariffs are widely seen as retaliatory and made in response to measures imposed by other countries that the U.S. government feels are anticompetitive.
Sustainability
NCA Partners with the Sustainable Coffee Challenge to Launch the Plant Trees. Save Coffee Campaign
9/24/2019 - The NCA is proud to partner with Conservation International and the Sustainable Coffee Challenge on the Plant Trees. Save Coffee campaign.
Coffee Prices
Green Coffee Prices, Farmers, and You
9/20/2019 - The world's record supply of coffee and massive productivity in some producing countries is keeping green coffee prices stable at levels that are challenging farmers with higher costs.