Mondelez exec asks for further EU Deforestation Regulation delay

Massimiliano Di Domenico, Europe VP of Government Affairs at food company Mondelez International, has called for another 12-month delay on the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation.

The law, which was originally supposed to come into force in December 2024, was already delayed by one year last October, but Di Domenico argues that the cocoa sector needs more time to be able to fully meet its obligations under the framework.

The law requires companies trading forest-dependent commodities to conduct due diligence to ensure these products do not result from recent deforestation or forest degradation, as well as including local environmental and social elements.

“The cocoa sector is under huge pressure: soaring prices, declining production, and origin countries still scaling up digital capacity with clear implications for the whole value chain.

“That’s why we are respectfully, transparently and responsibly calling for a 12-month delay — not to dilute ambition, but to enable practical, inclusive, and effective implementation. In other words, to ensure the final objective of this important regulation will be met in practice in full,” the Mondelez executive said in a Linkedin post after making the plea in a speech at the European Parliament.

Mondelez support for EUDR

Mondelez is part of Voice Network’s Cocoa Coalition of companies pushing for a sustainable cocoa sector, and was one of the signatories of a joint statement opposing the potential reopening of EUDR negotiations last year.

Di Domenico added: “We fully support the ambition of the EUDR and we are very active with clear and ambitious objectives — but successful implementation must reflect on-the-ground realities, especially for smallholder farmers in the countries of origin.

“We cannot afford to compromise long-term sustainability goals with the many short-term implementation gaps and lack of clarity. Let’s take the time to get it right — for the environment, and future generations.”

But other Cocoa Coalition members, such as Tony’s Chocolonely, firmly oppose further delays arguing that “we’ve had decades to prepare”.