weighted score 4.3 · nine dimensions
Country Risk Profile
São Tomé and Príncipe
Sourcing risk, regulatory exposure and audit intelligence for São Tomé and Príncipe-origin supply chains.
Forced & child labour
3
Child labour in cocoa/agriculture documented. Forced labour incidence low. ILO conventions ratified but enforcement limited. Small-scale family farming involves children.
Worker rights & FOA
4
Freedom of association legal but unions weak. Small formal sector. Labour inspection minimal. Worker protections exist on paper but enforcement capacity limited.
OHS & audit transparency
5
No meaningful OHS regulatory capacity. Agricultural work involves hazards. No audit ecosystem. International buyers must conduct own due diligence.
Food & product safety
4
Cocoa exports are primary concern. SPS compliance challenging — limited laboratory capacity. Food safety regulation underdeveloped. EU EBA access requires meeting SPS standards.
Environmental & regulatory
4
Biodiversity-rich islands. Deforestation for cocoa expansion is a concern. Limited environmental enforcement capacity. No IUU card.
Governance & anti-corruption
5
TI CPI 45. Political instability — frequent PM changes. Institutional capacity limited. Oil revenue expectations create rent-seeking dynamics.
Tariff & preferential access
3
EU EBA provides duty-free access. LDC status gives preferential treatment. Primary trade advantage for cocoa and agricultural exports.
Non-tariff barriers
5
SPS compliance is the main challenge — limited laboratory and certification infrastructure. Technical barriers moderate. Small export volumes but quality assurance difficult.
Supply chain traceability
6
Cocoa traceability is weak. Small-scale farmers with limited record-keeping. No formal chain-of-custody systems. Certification (UTZ/Rainforest Alliance) coverage limited.
Labour & Social Risk
Labour & Social Risk
- Child labour
- Child labour exists in cocoa and agricultural sectors. ILO conventions ratified but enforcement capacity is limited. Small-scale family farming involves children in harvesting activities.
- Forced labour
- Forced labour incidence is low but labour protections are weak. Workers in plantation agriculture have limited bargaining power. Informal employment dominates.
- Worker rights
- Freedom of association exists legally but trade union capacity is very limited. Small economy means few formal sector workers. Labour inspection capacity minimal.
Governance & Trade Access
Governance & Trade Access
- Governance
- TI CPI 2025: 45 — moderate corruption. Political instability with frequent PM changes. Institutional capacity limited by small size. Governance score of 5 reflects elevated risk.
- Trade access
- EU EBA access as LDC provides duty-free entry. Cocoa is the primary export commodity. SPS compliance for food exports is a challenge given limited laboratory and inspection capacity.
- Regulatory capacity
- Very limited regulatory and institutional capacity. Small civil service. Oil revenue expectations may improve fiscal capacity but also create governance risks.