Small Ivory Coast cocoa firms say EU deforestation rules might bankrupt them

ABIDJAN: Small players in Ivory Coast’s cocoa industry say they fear they will go out of business due to the cost of complying with new European Union regulations on the import of commodities linked to deforestation.

The proposed law, which aims to end the estimated 10% of global deforestation fuelled by EU consumption, requires companies importing goods such as cocoa, soy, beef and coffee to prove their supply chains do not contribute to the destruction of the world’s forests, or face hefty fines.

In order to meet the regulations, Ivory Coast has…