Chocolate giant Mondelez ramps up lobbying to delay EU deforestation law, after previously backing it

Chocolate giant Mondelez has stepped up its lobbying effort to delay the EU’s landmark anti-deforestation law, according to new research published on Tuesday (8 September) by Global Witness, the pro-transparency NGO. That would complete a remarkable change of heart by Mondelez, whose brands include Toblerone, Milka and Cadbury, and was publicly supportive of the deforestation law during the early stages of its drafting and adoption by the EU institutions. “When it comes to EU policy action to tackle deforestation Mondelez International supports the adoption of harmonised due diligence legislation in the European Union,” the company wrote in its submission to the European Commission’s consultation on the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) in 2020. It was also part of the “Cocoa Coalition” – alongside fellow chocolate giants such as Ferrero, Mars, Nestlé and Tony’s Chocolonely – which urged the EU not to delay the legislation in 2024. But in July 2025, Mondelez broke with other chocolate majors supportive of the EUDR’s implementation to call for a second 12 -month delay to the law on the grounds that cocoa farmers “are far from being ready.” Those concerns are not without foundation. To read this story, log in or subscribeEnjoy access to all articles and 25 years of archives, comment and gift articles. Become a subscriber for as low as €1,75 per week.Read without limitsAlready a subscriber? Login