Ivory Coast has traced about 40 percent of its cocoa beans during the 2024–2025 season, as part of efforts to comply with the European Union’s anti-deforestation law, according to the latest Cocoa Barometer report by VOICE Network. The law, which requires proof that agricultural imports such as cocoa, coffee, and palm oil are not linked to deforestation, was initially scheduled to take effect on December 30, 2025, but has been postponed by one year, Reuters reported.
The country’s traceability system includes a new digital platform that links farms to cocoa buyers, with nearly 900,000 of its one million farmers now issued digital identification cards. This initiative allows authorities to track cocoa from the farm to the export stage, ensuring transparency across the supply chain. However, despite these advancements, Ivory Coast remains short of full compliance, a concern given that roughly two-thirds of its cocoa exports go to the European Union, Reuters noted.
VOICE Network Director Antonie Fountain said progress has been significant but more work remains to be done. “We expect a higher traceability percentage next season,” he said, adding that the EU’s delay offers time to strengthen systems but risks slowing momentum toward sustainability and forest protection efforts.
Analysts warn that while the delay eases short-term pressure on exporters, it also exposes smaller cooperatives to future regulatory risks. Ivory Coast’s progress is being closely watched as a test case for how African producers can adapt to Europe’s tightening environmental trade standards while ensuring fair compensation for farmers and preserving access to key markets.
