NEWS EXTRA
UK COCOA COALITION CALLS FOR URGENT CLARITY ON FOREST-RISK REGULATION
Industry leaders unite behind stronger cocoa sustainability rules, but not everyone is convinced this will lead to real change. Kiran Grewal reports.
A
newly formed alliance of cocoa processors, confectionery manufacturers, retailers and NGOs is urging
the UK government to move forward with long-awaited legislation designed to tackle deforestation in global agricultural supply chains. The UK Cocoa Coalition has called on ministers to bring the Forest Risk Commodities Regulation, created under
Civil society: regulation must work for farmers Several NGOs within the coalition have emphasised that regulatory frameworks must be designed with smallholder farmers in mind. In a LinkedIn statement announcing its
participation in the coalition, the Rainforest Alliance stressed that the success of deforestation rules depends on whether farmers are able to comply with them. “Regulations like these are essential to driving a deforestation-free cocoa sector, but must be designed with farmers’ livelihoods and realities in mind. Cocoa farmers are the least resilient actors in the supply chain, being on the front lines of the climate crisis and often suffering disproportionately from market volatility,” says Owen Gibbons, Senior Manager, Global Advocacy & UK Public Affairs, Rainforest Alliance. The organisation also highlighted the
importance of providing practical tools to help farmers meet new requirements, including farm-level geodata and traceability systems. The Fairtrade Foundation has also emphasised that regulatory frameworks should reinforce efforts to improve farmer livelihoods. “Smallholder farmers are central to cocoa supply chains, yet at risk of being disproportionately burdened by bearing the costs of compliance. This is a moment to embed shared responsibility for compliance across the supply chain, with companies supporting producers through fair pricing, investment and meaningful engagement,” comments Jason Archie- Acheampong, Sustainable Sourcing Lead, Fairtrade Foundation. “We are proud to be part of the UK Cocoa
10 • KENNEDY’S CONFECTION • APRIL 2026 “Robust due-diligence legislation is
COCOA FARMERS ARE THE LEAST RESILIENT ACTORS IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN, BEING ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS AND OFTEN SUFFERING
DISPROPORTIONATELY FROM MARKET VOLATILITY
Coalition and to work with partners to ensure this delivers positive outcomes for farmers, businesses and the environment.”
Advocacy groups call for strong environmental standards Environmental organisations participating in the coalition have stressed the importance of ensuring the regulation sets clear and enforceable standards. The conservation organisation WWF UK highlighted the role that strong legislation can play in tackling global deforestation linked to agricultural commodities.
essential if the UK is to play its part in ending deforestation linked to global supply chains. Clear and consistent rules can help ensure that products entering the UK market are not contributing to forest loss,” says Thomas Addoah, Deforestation Policy Advisor, WWF UK. For NGOs focused on environmental
protection, the UK regulation represents an opportunity for the country to demonstrate leadership in addressing commodity-driven deforestation.
Chocolate companies push for a level playing field Chocolate manufacturers within the coalition have also voiced support for stronger regulatory frameworks. Mission-driven chocolate brand Tony’s
Chocolonely, which has long campaigned for structural change in the cocoa industry, has framed regulation as a key tool for creating fairer supply chains. Belinda Borck, Global Public Policy Coordinator & Chocolonely Foundation Manager, Tony’s Chocolonely commented: “Strong, well- designed legislation can help ensure that all companies sourcing cocoa are held to the same standards, accelerating the transition towards a cocoa sector that is free from exploitation and deforestation.”
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