Cocoa Coalition of Ferrero, Mars, Mondelez and Nestlé urges EU not to water down delay-hit EUDR environmental laws

A collective of major confectionery businesses known as the Cocoa Coalition, including Ferrero, Mars, Mondelez International Nestlé, Tony’s Chocolonely, has urged the EU to resist any further amendments to EUDR legislation on tackling deforestation, which is already set to be delayed by a year, reports Neill Barston.

The group acknowledged the EU Commission’s proposal for a 12-month roll-back of implementing the landmark law that for the first time introduce mandatory controls in supply chains, with medium and large-sized enterprises having to prove they are ‘deforestation free’ with their core ingredient sourcing.

Despite the new laws having been formally adopted over 18 months ago, a total of 20 EU nations have subsequently claimed they are not ready for the scheme, with many citing a lack of clarity over how the laws will be interpreted on the ground and its practical monitoring rolled-out.

In response, with the past two weeks, the EU has finally released its updated guidance for EUDR, which the Cocoa Coalition has welcomed and said it strongly stood by, but few had expected a year-long extension to its introduction. As previously reported, the German Chancellor had recently lobbied for a six-month delay for the scheme, with Tony’s Chocolonely and environmental groups including Mighty Earth noting that any extension of the timeframe for its implementation would have serious negative consequences for the environment and core communities affected by the legislation.

The EU Commission’s proposed 12-month delay to the legislation has several key administrative hurdles to pass through – including the European Council, which this week gave its backing to the push-back of the laws, which will now require the European Parliament to vote on it in a session next month.

In a statement the Cocoa Coalition said: “The Cocoa Coalition, which comprises companies and civil society and other organisations in the cocoa and chocolate sector,* has consistently supported the introduction of the EUDR. We welcome the publication of the guidance and updated FAQ document by the European Commission on 2 October. We will study them closely, and look forward to further clarifications as soon as possible. We note the Commission’s proposal to delay implementation by twelve months, and call for this to be adopted as speedily as possible, without amendment, in order to give companies as much certainty as possible on the revised timetable. We strongly oppose reopening the substance of the EUDR for new negotiations, and urge policymakers to resist any such suggestion.

“This would serve only to impede the smooth passage of the proposal, increase uncertainty and jeopardise the significant investments our member companies have made in preparing for its application. We also call on the Commission, member states and the corporate sector to provide appropriate support for the implementation of the EUDR for smallholder farmers and their organisations so that the costs of compliance are not passed to them and they are not excluded from the EU market due to a lack of resources. The Cocoa Coalition consists of companies (Ferrero, The Hershey Company, Mars Wrigley, Mondelēz International, Nestlé, Tony’s Chocolonely, Unilever), and civil society and other organisations (Fairtrade International, Fair Trade Advocacy Office, International Cocoa Initiative, IDH, Rainforest Alliance, Solidaridad, VOICE Network). See here for more information.

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