(Business in Cameroon) – Cameroon’s cocoa and coffee industries are now nearly fully traceable, putting the country in a strong position to meet the European Union’s new deforestation rules, according to the Minister of Trade, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana.
Speaking at the National Forum on EU Regulation Compliance in Yaoundé on July 15, the minister said 99% of the country’s cocoa and coffee growing areas are now covered by geolocation and traceability systems. These tools are part of a shared data agreement signed by the cocoa-coffee inter-professional board on August 28, 2024, to help exporters prove that their products meet EU sustainability standards.
The EU regulation, known as the EUDR, is aimed at ensuring that products sold in Europe are not linked to deforestation or forest degradation after December 30, 2020. It was originally scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2025, but has been delayed until January 1, 2026, following requests from producing countries.
The forum, organized by the Cocoa and Coffee Interprofessional Council (CICC) and its national and international partners, focused on Cameroon’s progress in complying with the new regulation. Compliance is especially critical for Cameroon, as 78% of its cocoa exports and 87% of its coffee exports go to the European Union, based on official data.
Under the EUDR, exporting countries must meet seven key requirements. These include land use rights, environmental protection, labor rights, human rights under international law, the principle of free and informed consent for Indigenous Peoples, and compliance with laws on taxes, anti-corruption, trade, and customs.
In addition to cocoa and coffee, the EUDR also applies to palm oil, soy, beef, rubber, and timber, as well as products derived from them.
