Deforestation: Trade minister urges EU to consider Cameroon’s specific circumstances in regulation.

The member of government made the call in Yaounde August 28. He was speaking during the signing and adoption of the geolocation database by the Cameroon Cocoa and Coffee Interprofessional Council, CICC, to meet EU cocoa regulations and sustainable standards.

The signing took place in the presence of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Gabriel Mbairobe. Six cocoa exporters such as Telcar Cocoa, Ofi Cam, Sic Cocao, Atlantic Cocoa, Cameroon Neo Industry and the Cocoa Development Fund, FODECC, lived the ceremony. 

The signing of the geolocation database is in line with the European Union’s new deforestation regulation banning the import of cocoa from deforested land as producers will need to provide documentation proving their products comply with traceability and sustainable requirements.

Highlighting the importance of the geolocation, the Minister of Trade emphasised that the initiative aims to protect small scale local producers who might be at risk of losing out due to the cost linked to the new requirements.

“Sharing data will help maintain their access to the European market, while boosting Cameroon’s competitiveness internationally,” Mbarga Atangana stated.

Calling for recognition of Cameroon’s efforts in forest preservation and agroforestry practices, he suggested that adjusting prices should reflect compliance cost.

The General Manager of Atlantic Cocoa, Josiane Tchoungui, stated that the operators need to share their data for the benefit of the entire industry.

“We agreed to have a shared platform for all cocoa sourced from Cameroon. Small operators will input data into the platform through the CICC whenever they have shipments,” Josiane Tchoungui said.

Expressing confidence in the database Tchoungui, said: “They will have access to information about the cocoa they have purchased. We are fully confident in the process that has been put in place and we are happy to ensure that Cameroon meets this regulation”.

Praising the collaboration as a successful model of public private partnership, the EU Ambassador to Cameroon, Jean Marc Chataigner, expressed his support for Cameroon’s efforts to implement sustainable production practices and confirming that the EU will back these initiatives.

With this new platform, Cameroon is ready to meet the standards of the EU regulations starting on January 1, 2025 and maintain its market position in Europe.

According to a National Institute of Statistics report, Cameroon’s raw cocoa export to the EU was 18.6% in 2023, generating 263.9 billion FCFA in revenue. 

Other cocoa products like cocoa butter and cocoa paste also contributed to export, representing 3.3% and 4.2% of total exports to the EU.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3219 of Wednesday September 04, 2024