Managing Entities and Intermediary Buyers

• A 4C Unit is a green coffee/cocoa producing group that includes any type of production and process facilities that produce a minimum of 20 tons of 4C certified green coffee/cocoa bean per year.
  It consists of the Managing Entity (ME) and its Business Partners (BPs).
• The Managing Entity (ME) is a legally registered person, company, or organization that administers its 4C Unit.
  As the certificate holder, the ME is responsible to ensure the compliance with 4C requirements within its 4C Unit.
• Intermediary Buyers (IB) are traders, which operate outside of the 4C Unit and commercialize 4C certified coffee/cocoa.
  IBs that would like to get 4C Chain of Custody certified can do so on a voluntary basis.
• Final Buyers (FB, not listed below) are the last actor in the supply chain that purchases 4C certified green coffee or cocoa beans.
  Hence, an FB can be a coffee roaster or a cocoa processor or manufacturer.