Cocoa-producing countries are requesting a two-year extension to comply with the EU’s upcoming deforestation regulation, which is set to take effect in three months. The regulation, designed to prevent cocoa imports from deforested areas post-January 2021, requires detailed measures like geolocation of plots and a comprehensive traceability system.
In a joint declaration signed in Abidjan, the countries argue that the implementation deadlines are “unrealistic,” noting that the necessary systems are not yet operational, and the European Commission has not provided all required documents or activated the data processing platform. A rushed implementation, they warn, could harm small producers by blocking their access to the European market.
To avoid further market disruption, they call for a minimum two-year delay and request technical and financial support from the EU and manufacturers to comply with the regulation without cutting planters’ incomes. This request follows similar appeals from downstream players, including the European Chocolate Association.
The EU’s regulation, adopted in 2022, mandates that cocoa placed on the market must be sourced from land not deforested since December 31, 2020. Cocoa operators and traders must implement a deforestation due diligence approach and comply with both national and international production laws. This applies to all cocoa products on the EU market, regardless of operator size or EU membership.