EU – The European Cocoa Association (ECA) has called on the European Commission to delay the implementation of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), citing concerns about the industry’s preparedness and the potential impact on European cocoa competitiveness.
The EUDR, scheduled for implementation in December 2024, mandates that companies importing certain commodities, including cocoa, must prove that their products are deforestation-free.
In an open letter to Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, the ECA expressed concerns about the readiness of the industry to comply with the EUDR.
It emphasized that without additional time for preparation, European cocoa producers could lose their competitive edge in the global market.
“To ensure the sustainable prosperity and competitiveness of the European cocoa industry, the ECA respectfully requests that a proposal to delay the date of application of the EU Deforestation Regulation be put forward,” the letter stated.
The ECA’s appeal follows similar requests from various stakeholders, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who also urged the EU Commission to delay the scheme.
Countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Brazil, and cocoa trade associations in Ivory Coast have echoed concerns, warning that the regulations could create significant barriers to trade in key commodities like cocoa and palm oil.
A major concern raised by ECA and other critics is that the new regulations could lead to a “two-tier” trading system, where compliant supplies are separated from non-compliant ones.
This division, they argue, could deepen inequalities within the industry and limit market access for smallholder farmers.
The ECA also highlighted the lack of clarity surrounding critical aspects of the legislation, such as the delayed publication of guidance and FAQs, which has made legal compliance challenging.
Moreover, the organization raised “extreme concern” about the monitoring information system linked to the EUDR, questioning its design and capability to process the vast amounts of data required to verify compliance from farms across the supply chain.
In addition to the technical uncertainties, the ECA pointed out that some EU member states have not yet established competent authorities to monitor compliance with the EUDR. The association called for more time to ensure that all stakeholders are adequately prepared.
Despite the mounting calls for a delay, the European Commission has so far resisted any postponement of the EUDR’s implementation.
A spokesperson for the Commission reiterated the importance of the legislation in curbing deforestation, the second-largest contributor to climate change after fossil fuel emissions.
The spokesperson emphasized that the Commission is working closely with all stakeholders to assist them in meeting their legal obligations.
According to data from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the EU is the world’s second-largest contributor to global deforestation through its imports.
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