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Cadbury-parent Mondelez calls for delay to EU deforestation law

Cadbury chocolate maker Mondelez wants to delay the deforestation legislation of the European Union by one year, according to a senior executive.

Massimiliano di Domenico is the vice president for corporate and government affairs in Europe. He said that while Massimiliano supports EU Deforestation Regulation, he urged policymakers not to ignore "on-the ground realities."

Di Domenico spoke at the European Parliament and posted his comments later on LinkedIn.

Nestle, Mars Wrigley and Ferrero supported the law by signing a joint document in July of last year. They also urged Brussels to give clearer guidance and assistance to help the companies meet the deadline for compliance.

Companies and traders who import soy, beef and other products must prove that their supply chain does not contribute to deforestation. If they fail to do this, they will be fined.

Di Domenico stated that the cocoa industry is "under enormous pressure" because of soaring prices and declining production in origin countries, as well as digital infrastructure gaps which could disrupt supply chains and affect compliance.

Di Domenico wrote in his blog: "We respectfully, transparency and responsibly call for a one-year delay -- not to dilute our ambition but to allow practical, inclusive and effective implementation."

After criticism from the industry, the EU has already postponed its launch for a year, to December 2025. (Reporting by Anusha Shah in Bengaluru; Editing by Rachna Uppal)

(source: Reuters)