Definitive EUDR guide for cocoa importers

The EU Regulation 2023/1115 (EUDR) requires every operator or trader placing cocoa or its derivatives (chocolate, butter, cocoa powder) on the EU market to prove the product is deforestation-free after 31 December 2020 and legally produced. This guide explains how to comply if you import cocoa in any EU country.

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1. What EUDR covers for cocoa

EUDR applies to cocoa beans (HS 1801.00), cocoa butter, cocoa powder and derived products like chocolate. If you are an operator (placing the product on the EU market) or trader, you must submit a due diligence statement (DDS) before import.

2. Geolocation of cocoa plots

Each cocoa plot must be geolocated:

• Plots > 4 ha: GeoJSON polygon with 6-decimal coordinates.
• Plots ≤ 4 ha: point or polygon.

Cocoa is often grown on smallholdings in West Africa (Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana), Ecuador and Peru. If you work with cooperatives, you need coordinates for each member farm.

3. Satellite deforestation screening

Satellite screening compares the plot polygon against reference forest-cover layers (cut-off 31 Dec 2020). The result is decision support, not automatic legal conformity.

4. Risk assessment (Art. 9-11)

Key factors for cocoa: country risk (Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana are high deforestation-risk zones), chain complexity, mixed lots and documentary gaps.

5. DDS dossier and TRACES submission

The dossier includes operator, product, geolocation, deforestation-free statement, legality statement and risk assessment. It is submitted to the EU EUDR Information System (TRACES).

EUDR-Comply helps you manage the entire cocoa flow, from plot capture to a TRACES-ready pack.