Effects of the new EU regulation on the cocoa industry
These regulations can affect tens of thousands of farmers. “The biggest concern is for the farmers who have direct buying relationships with Europe and whose beans exceed newly established cadmium levels,” Seguine said. Buyers do not want to take a risk and hold purchasing until lab results come through. According to Francisco Miranda, president of the National Association of Cocoa Exporters of Ecuador, few containers of specialty cocoa currently leave Ecuador for Europe. Consequences will be smaller for larger cocoa processors and chocolate manufacturers as they blend bean sources and dilute with other ingredients. This process, however, is more challenging for single origin chocolate makers. The marketing of their chocolate is often based on single origin cocoa. Beans with a cadmium level above 0.8 mg/kg are often rejected. According to Francisco Javier Gomez of CasaLuker, “When you make 70% chocolate, you include 10% butter, and this dilutes the cadmium effect. It is possible to use a 1.2 mg/kg in your 70% bar.”