Cadbury parent Mondelez seeks EU deforestation law delay
The company supports the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) in principle, Massimiliano Di Domenico, vice president of corporate and government affairs for Europe said, but urged policymakers to account for 'on-the-ground realities.'
Di Domenico was speaking at the European Parliament last week and later posted his comments on LinkedIn.
In July last year, Reuters reported that Nestle, Mars Wrigley, and Ferrero backed the law in a joint paper, while urging Brussels to provide clearer guidance and support to help companies meet the compliance deadline.
The proposed law, which aims to end 10% of global deforestation fuelled by EU consumption, requires companies and traders importing soy, beef, cocoa, coffee and related products to prove their supply chains do not contribute to the destruction of the world's forests, or face hefty fines.
Di Domenico said the cocoa sector is 'under huge pressure' due to soaring prices, declining production, and digital infrastructure gaps in origin countries which could affect compliance and disrupt supply chains.
'That's why we are respectfully, transparently and responsibly calling for a 12-month delay — not to dilute ambition, but to enable practical, inclusive, and effective implementation,' Di Domenico said in his post.
The EU has already delayed its launch by a year to December 2025, following complaints from trading partners including Brazil and the U.S., and cut back reporting rules after industry criticism.
- Reuters
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The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
China hits back at EU with reciprocal ban on major medical equipment contracts
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Malay Mail
7 hours ago
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What it lacks in ideological unity, it compensates for in complementary strengths: Asean's convening power, BRICS' push for institutional reform, the GCC's financial firepower, CJK's technological leadership, and the EU's regulatory sophistication and climate stewardship. Together, they offer the possibility of crafting a new global compact — one based not on zero-sum dominance, but on shared stability, regional respect, and cooperative development. A complementary architecture The synergies are clear. Asean, with over 700 million people and the fifth-largest economy by purchasing power parity, anchors the Indo-Pacific as a zone of peace and trade. The GCC — comprising Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and others — is reimagining its role in the world, investing in renewables and digital transformation while maintaining its primacy in energy markets. The CJK triangle — China, Japan, and South Korea — represents one of the most technologically advanced regions globally, with deep stakes in global supply chains and infrastructure finance. BRICS, now expanded to include new members such as Egypt, Ethiopia, and Iran, presents a compelling alternative voice to the Western-dominated Bretton Woods system. And the EU, though historically aligned with the West, has increasingly leaned into multilateral diplomacy, climate leadership, and inclusive global governance. What unites these diverse players is not ideology, but a convergence of interest: the need for a multipolar world where power is balanced and rules are mutually shaped — not imposed. Economic coordination and trade resilience The first and most immediate domain of cooperation is trade. Asean and China are upgrading their Free Trade Agreement to version 3.0. CJK economies are interlinked through the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). 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Joint climate financing facilities — supported by sovereign wealth funds from the GCC, infrastructure banks from BRICS and the EU, and implementation partnerships across Asean and CJK — can build smart cities, green ports, and regional supply chains. Governing the digital and institutional future In a digital world, sovereignty and interdependence go hand in hand. Asean and CJK are rapidly advancing AI governance, 5G rollout, and e-commerce rules. The EU leads in setting global standards for data privacy, AI ethics, and cyber security. BRICS is pioneering digital finance and public infrastructure platforms. GCC states are adopting smart governance models and building digital public infrastructure from scratch. This is where an inter-bloc dialogue becomes vital. 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These regions, taken together, have the demographics, capital, technology, and legitimacy to set the tone for the 21st century. They will not agree on everything. But they can agree on enough: trade rules that work for all; digital frameworks that empower without exploiting; climate policies that don't punish the poor; and financial systems that serve development rather than domination. The task now is not to wait for a new world to be handed down from Washington or Brussels. It is to build it — from Brasília to Kuala Lumpur, from Riyadh to Seoul, and from Brussels to Jakarta. And the time to build is now. * Phar Kim Beng, PhD, is the Director of the Institute of Internationalisation and Asean Studies (IINTAS) at IIUM. ** This is the personal opinion of the writers or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
New Straits Times
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