About the Sugar Traders Association of the United Kingdom

The Sugar Traders Association of the United Kingdom (STAUK) was founded in 1952 by sugar trading companies based in London.

Membership of the Association is limited to sugar trading companies which are resident in the UK and associations in the UK representative of sugar interests. The Association represents large and small sugar traders in the United Kingdom, whether domestic traders or international traders. Please click here for a list of members of STAUK.

The aims of the Association are "to promote, support, develop, protect and maintain the trade in sugar". The constitution of STAUK may be consulted by clicking here.

The Association plays a key role in representing the UK sugar trade through the political process, the media and other channels of influence, contributing knowledge, expertise and broadly based views, and developing market opportunities.

The Association does not maintain staff or office facilities; it's affairs are managed by an annually elected Committee and Honorary Secretary which meets regularly. The Association is resourced from members' subscriptions.

The Association seeks out information relevant to members on key issues that affect them, e.g by monitoring and anticipating the legislative and regulatory process. This information is disseminated regularly and discussed amongst Members to ensure that the Association's views on matters which effect its members are taken into account at the earliest opportunity. The Association is proactive in shaping polices and initiatives which will benefit the UK sugar sector and puts forward to Government well-researched, cogently argued cases, and initiates and coordinates relevant action.

The Association's activities bring it into contact with official institutions of the UK government such as the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), HM Customs & Excise and the Rural Payments Agency (RPA).

The Association also works with non-members and cooperates with other associations in allied sectors on matters of joint concern effectively to represent the sector's interests at all levels of the legislative and regulatory process.
 

ASSUC

The Sugar Traders Association of the UK represents the sector's interests in Europe and liaises with counterparts in EU at both national and European level via ASSUC, the Association des Organizations Professionnelles du Commerce des Sucres pour les Pays de l'Union Européene.

ASSUC's role is - amongst other things - to promote the European sugar trade and to liaise with European institutions such as the European Commission and Parliament; to protect the interests of European sugar traders; to lobby to ensure a level playing field for all engaged in the European sugar trade; and to provide valuable information to its members such as STAUK.

Membership of ASSUC is open to all national organizations of sugar traders in Europe. ASSUC's current members are the national organizations in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Slovenia (associate member), Spain and the United Kingdom. The list of ASSUC members may be consulted here.

Much of the law governing sugar trading in Europe is European Union legislation, and thus ASSUC liaises closely with relevant organizations and institutions, in particular with the European Commission.

The EU in turn fulfills its obligations to liaise with EU sugar traders through ASSUC.
ASSUC also administers and arbitrates the ASSUC Sugar Contract No.2 for EU FOB Stowed Trade 1984. Subject to certain exceptions, the contract terms for LIFFE White Sugar Futures Contracts are subject to ASSUC rules for all sugar exported from the European Union.