Chocolate heavyweights Nestlé, Mars and Ferrero have reportedly given their support to the EU’s upcoming ban on imported goods linked to deforestation.
News agency Reuters said it had seen a paper supporting the move that had been shared with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's team.
The paper had apparently been signed by the three chocolate majors, as well as Dutch ethical chocolate maker Tony's Chocolonely, the Fair Trade Advocacy Office and the Voice network of non-profit groups working on sustainability in the cocoa sector.
But it said the paper urged the EU to do more to help companies meet its December start date.
The deforestation law will, from 30 December, require companies selling cocoa, coffee, palm oil and other products in the bloc to prove their supply chains don't contribute to the destruction of forests.
It has faced opposition from the US government, some countries in South East Asia and paper industry bodies but the EU has so far resisted calls to delay the policy.
Reuters quoted the paper supporting the law, signed by the chocolate companies, as saying: "The EUDR (EU Deforestation Regulation) represents an important step forward in driving the necessary transformation of the cocoa and chocolate sector, by helping to minimise the risk of deforestation associated with cocoa and chocolate products placed on the EU market.”
The European Commission, the EU’s law-making arm, proposed the new deforestation rules back in 2021 as part of a package of environmental measures under Brussels’ European Green Deal.
The draft law followed an international pledge made at the COP26 summit in Scotland to end deforestation by 2030.
Just Food asked all of the confectionery companies mentioned in the Reuters story for their comments.
A Nestlé spokesperson said: "Thanks to our long-standing work in avoiding deforestation, we are confident that we will be able to comply with this regulation. However, more clarity is needed on some remaining practical aspects, including how individual EU member states plan to implement the proposed law."
Belinda Borck, global public policy co-ordinator at Tony’s Chocolonely, said: “Tony's Chocolonely supports and welcomes the EUDR, and via our Tony’s open chain cocoa sourcing model we already enable deforestation-free cocoa for all farms in our entire supply chain. We raise the bar whilst the government now raises the floor, for everyone.
“We believe fundamental industry change is possible and recognise the EUDR as a critical step for minimising deforestation linked to cocoa production. As a step towards timely and just implementation, we urge the EU to assess and support smallholder farmers, considering their specific challenges and needs, as well as ensuring comprehensive stakeholder engagement in the risk assessment process.”
