Skip to content

News Briefing: EUDR Delay Negotiations – What  the Cocoa Sector  Needs to Know

As part of the new agreement, the European Commission will conduct a simplification review by April 2026 to assess what’s working, what isn’t, and how to make the rules more practical without weakening environmental standards

,   and  Anthony Myers
5 min read
Image shows extariro of the European Commission building.
If the delay is confirmed, cocoa companies will have an extra year (to 30 Dec 2026 for large operators) to prepare compliance systems. Image: Unsplash

The revised text also reduces some administrative steps. Only the first importer into the EU will need to submit a due diligence statement and share the reference number with their buyer. Companies further down the chain must still know their suppliers and keep basic contact details, but will not need to pass reference numbers forward. 

‘It is too early to fully foresee the implications of the changes for the cocoa sector,’ the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) says.

Advertisement

Quick Smart Media — Elevating Your Cocoa and Media Ventures

Preferred by Nature’s analysis notes that the Parliament’s negotiating position was adopted on 26 Nov 2025 and that the legislative process must conclude before mid‑December 2025; otherwise, the existing EUDR timeline (Dec 2025 for large operators; Jun 2026 for small operators) will remain.

This content is for Members

Subscribe

Already have an account? Log in

Privacy Policy Cookie Policy