(Business in Cameroon) – As the European Union’s Anti-Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) approaches its January 1, 2025 enforcement date, Cameroon faces a significant challenge: aligning its cocoa and coffee exports with the EU’s stringent new standards. The regulation, adopted by the EU Council on May 31, 2023, aims to ban products linked to deforestation or forest degradation after December 30, 2020, from entering the European market.
In preparation, a meeting led by Trade Minister Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana took place on July 18 in Yaoundé. Key ministry officials and EU representatives, headed by Jean-Marc Chataigner, the EU delegation chief in Cameroon, discussed the EUDR’s implications.
According to Atangana, “78% of Cameroon’s cocoa exports and 68% of its coffee exports are destined for the European market. With current prices at around CFA5,000 per kilogram of cocoa, or CFA5 million per ton, and an export production of 300,000 tons, this represents a direct income to producers of about CFA1,500 billion in a single season.” This underscores the economic and social significance of the sector, highlighting Cameroon’s desire to meet EU standards to maintain access to this lucrative market.
Cameroon faces a threefold challenge. First, it must ensure rigorous traceability of products from origin to export. Second, the country must intensify efforts to produce cocoa and coffee without negatively impacting forests, embracing the “zero deforestation” concept. Lastly, compliance with the EU’s legality criteria is crucial. Cameroon emphasizes its traditional agroforestry practices in cocoa and coffee cultivation, which are less destructive to the environment compared to intensive practices used by other major producers. This could help Cameroon adapt to the new EU standards.
“Our producers deserve a premium rather than restricted market access, given our shaded production system,” insisted the Trade Minister. Jean-Marc Chataigner highlighted the importance of these regulations for global ecosystem preservation. The government is committed to promoting sustainable agricultural practices and increasing income diversification, especially in the cocoa sector. Initiatives like the EU’s “Sustainable Cocoa” program support this transition by providing the resources and technical expertise needed to align Cameroon’s agricultural practices with global sustainability standards.
