title: International Cotton Advisory Committee
text: # International Cotton Advisory Committee
  
  The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) is an association of governments of cotton producing, consuming and trading countries which acts as the international commodity body for cotton and cotton textiles.
  
  ## Structure and history
  
  Founded at the International Cotton Meeting in Washington, DC in 1939, the ICAC advocates for cotton producing nations, publishes studies and technical information on the cotton industry, and holds an annual Plenary Meeting of member states. While most of the world's cotton producing nations are members, two of the ten largest producers (The People's Republic of China and Turkmenistan) are not members of the ICAC. All of the top five cotton exporting nations are members.
  
  The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) along with private sector cotton organizations initiated the International Forum for Cotton Promotion (IFCP) in 2000. The IFCP serves as a forum and clearinghouse for the exchange of proven cotton promotion techniques. The IFCP facilitates domestically focused and domestically funded cotton promotion programs.
  
  ## Member states
  
  Member nations and date joining:
  
  * Argentina May 1946
  * Australia May 1946
  * Bangladesh February 1917
  * Brazil September 1939
  * Burkina Faso October 1997
  * Cameroon August 1969
  * Chad March 1967
  * Cote d'Ivoire August 1973
  * Egypt September 1939
  * European Union May 2017
  * India Sept 1939
  * Kazakhstan Sept 2006
  * Kenya July 2007
  * Korea (Republic of Korea) Mar 1954
  * Mali July 1996
  * Mozambique Sept 2010
  * Nigeria Sept 1972
  * Pakistan Jul 1948
  * Russia Feb 1962 (as USSR: Sept 1939)
  * South Africa July 1991
  * Sudan Sept 1939
  * Switzerland Jan 1951
  * Taiwan Feb 1963
  * Togo Sept 1999
  * Turkey Nov 1947
  * Uganda Nov 1962
  * United States Sept 1939
  * Uzbekistan Sept 1992
  * Zimbabwe Apr 1991
  