European Union does not limit or hinder cocoa from the Dominican Republic

EU – The European Union does not limit or hinder Dominican cocoa exports. Still, producers must certify, as of December 30, 2025, that the merchandise was grown on land that was not deforested or is not part of forest degradation, according to statements by the Delegation of the European Union in the Dominican Republic for the newspaper HOY.

The entity responded to questions to HOY in response to the complaint of the president of the National Confederation of Dominican Cocoa Growers (Conacado), Isidoro de la Rosa, that the European Union has established a series of rules and regulations hindering Dominican exports.

The delegate of the country’s Second Head of the European Union, Stefaan Pauwels, said that Dominican cocoa is highly appreciated for its quality, aroma, and flavor, and there is always an interest in strengthening trade ties. He recalled that the Dominican Republic and Ecuador are the leading exporter of organic cocoa to the European Union.

The First Counselor—Head of the Trade Section of the entity, Luis Araque de Juan—explained that by the end of this year, the “Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 on the availability on the Union market and export of certain raw materials and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation” was going to come into force. However, it was postponed to December 30, 2025.

He indicated that this new legislation aims to prevent the sale of products in the EU that come from areas affected by deforestation or forest degradation and must be complied with by all countries that export to its member countries.

He said that from the established date, cocoa farmers and other farmers must certify that their farm is not in a deforested area and send geo-coordinates or geolocations of the land to be able to export.

He added that in another order, organic products are moving from a current equivalence system to one of conformity in which the certifiers will have to visit the producers and certify again with the new requirements. Araque said this new system applies to everyone, not just Dominican producers. Araque also recalled that in April, he began the Cacao Trace program financed by the EU with more than RD$50 million, which will train 700 producers in Monte Plata to improve sustainable production and strengthen the supply chain.