Arabfields, Sophia Daly, Financial Analyst specialized in Agriculture and Futures Markets — Mondelez International is facing renewed criticism over its lobbying activities in Europe after environmental campaigners accused the global chocolate maker of seeking to weaken the European Union’s landmark anti-deforestation rules.

Global Witness said its investigation found that Mondelez had intensified contacts with policymakers and influential figures in Brussels and several European capitals as the EU moves closer to implementing stricter rules on commodities linked to forest destruction.

The dispute carries major implications for Africa’s cocoa-producing countries, particularly Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, which together account for roughly 60% of global cocoa production. Millions of smallholder farmers depend on the crop, making the future shape of European regulation a matter that reaches far beyond the corridors of Brussels.

The European Union’s deforestation regulation is designed to prevent commodities associated with deforestation from entering the bloc’s market. Cocoa is among the products covered, meaning companies will face stronger requirements to demonstrate the origin and traceability of their supplies.

Global Witness alleges that Mondelez, the owner of brands including Cadbury, Milka and Toblerone, has pushed for changes that could reduce the impact of the regulation. The organisation said the company had engaged in lobbying efforts across Europe and maintained contacts with policymakers opposed to the current framework.

Mondelez has maintained that it supports the objectives of the EU regulation and remains committed to responsible sourcing and deforestation-free supply chains.

The disagreement highlights a growing divide within the global cocoa industry. While some major companies have called for regulatory certainty and clearer implementation rules, others have warned that producers and supply chains need more time to adapt to increasingly demanding traceability requirements.

For cocoa farmers in West Africa, the debate is not simply about corporate lobbying or European legislation. It is about whether they will have the technology, financing and administrative support needed to remain connected to one of the world’s most valuable consumer markets.

In Côte d’Ivoire, where Europe absorbs a significant share of cocoa exports, producers and cooperatives are accelerating efforts to improve traceability. The country has introduced new systems intended to identify the origin of cocoa and strengthen compliance with international sustainability requirements.

But the transition has created difficulties on the ground. Many cooperatives and buying agents are still adapting to digital tools, while access to equipment and training remains uneven in rural communities.

The stakes are considerable. Cocoa production has been linked to an estimated 2.2 million hectares of deforestation across major rainforest regions in West and Central Africa between 2001 and 2020, according to analysis cited by Global Witness. Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana remain among the countries most affected by the expansion of cocoa farming into forest areas.

Environmental groups argue that weakening the EU regulation could slow efforts to address these pressures. They also warn that voluntary corporate commitments have not been sufficient to stop deforestation throughout global agricultural supply chains.

The debate comes at a critical moment for the chocolate industry. Companies are already dealing with volatile cocoa prices, tighter supplies and growing pressure from consumers and investors to demonstrate stronger environmental and social standards.

By 2026, traceability has become one of the industry’s central competitive challenges. Companies capable of mapping their supply chains to farm level are expected to be better positioned as environmental regulations become more demanding in Europe and other major consumer markets.

The long-term direction appears increasingly clear. Even if European rules are modified, cocoa exporters will face growing pressure to prove where their beans come from and how they were produced.

For African producers, this could create both risks and opportunities. Farmers and cooperatives that successfully adopt digital traceability systems could gain stronger access to premium international markets. Those unable to meet new requirements could face higher costs and greater difficulty selling into regulated markets.

Over the coming years, the cocoa industry is therefore likely to move further toward greater transparency, regardless of the outcome of the current political battle in Brussels. The central question will be whether governments, multinational companies and international buyers provide enough support to ensure that millions of small farmers are not left behind.

For Mondelez and its competitors, the challenge will increasingly extend beyond compliance. As consumers and regulators demand clearer evidence of sustainable sourcing, the ability to combine profitable cocoa production with forest protection may become one of the defining tests for the global chocolate industry.