Accordingly, certain raw materials and products, including cocoa and products containing cocoa, may only be offered on the EU market if they are free from deforestation and forest degradation and have been produced in accordance with the laws of the country of origin.

The final text of the regulation is expected to be published with the pending formal adoption in the European Parliament.   

After the subsequent formal legal review and translation into the official languages, the regulation is expected to enter into force in mid-2023. “Once the Regulation is in force, operators and traders will have 18 months to implement the new rules. Micro and small enterprises will enjoy a longer adaptation period, as well as other specific provisions,” the European Commission's website states. 

• The text of the agreement on deforestation reached in the trilogue can be found here.

• The press release of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) can be found here.