A new cross-industry alliance is urging the UK government to bring long-awaited deforestation legislation into force, warning that continued delays risk slowing progress towards sustainable cocoa supply chains.
The UK Cocoa Coalition, which brings together chocolate manufacturers, retailers, certification organisations and NGOs, has called on ministers to activate the Forest Risk Commodities Regulation established under the Environment Act 2021.
In a position statement published on 24 March, the coalition said more than four years have passed since the legislation was adopted, yet the statutory instrument needed to implement the regulation has still not been introduced.
The group argues that this lack of clarity is creating uncertainty for businesses working to improve supply-chain transparency and tackle deforestation linked to cocoa production.
The coalition is also urging the government to align the UK regulation with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which will come fully into force at the end of 2026. Closer alignment, it says, would help reduce compliance costs for companies operating across both markets and avoid unnecessary barriers to trade.
Members of the coalition span the cocoa value chain, including manufacturers, retailers and civil society organisations, including Ferrero, Hershey, Barry Callebaut, M&S, Waitrose and Partners and Sainsbury’s.
Several NGOs involved in the initiative have stressed that any new regulation must take into account the realities faced by cocoa farmers. “Regulations like these are essential to driving a deforestation-free cocoa sector, but must be designed with farmers’ livelihoods and realities in mind,” said Owen Gibbons, senior manager for global advocacy and UK public affairs at the Rainforest Alliance.
Environmental groups have also highlighted the importance of robust due-diligence standards. “Clear and consistent rules can help ensure that products entering the UK market are not contributing to forest loss,” said Thomas Addoah, deforestation policy advisor at WWF UK.
Chocolate companies participating in the coalition have also emphasised the importance of consistent standards across the industry. “Strong, well-designed legislation can help ensure that all companies sourcing cocoa are held to the same standards,” said Belinda Borck, global public policy coordinator at Tony’s Chocolonely.
The coalition has also called for the UK regulation to adopt a “negligible risk” due-diligence standard, similar to the approach used under the UK Timber Regulation, arguing that weaker standards could undermine the effectiveness of the legislation.
Supporters say the regulation, once implemented, could play an important role in accelerating the shift towards deforestation-free cocoa supply chains, particularly if accompanied by support for smallholder farmers and collaboration with producing countries.
