"Nestlé, Unilever and Mars join protests against delayed EU deforestation law," 6 November 2024

Nestlé, Ferrero, Unilever and Mars have joined calls by fellow food and drink manufacturers in opposing the European Union’s delay to deforestation laws.

Set to be implemented on 30 December, the companies argue that the EU’s decision to delay the landmark deforestation policy is causing uncertainty across the industry and putting investment at risk.

The law is intended to ban foods from being sold which are made with commodities grown on deforested land such as cocoa, palm oil, rubber and wood. However, the introduction of the policy has been delayed by the European Commission following heavy lobbying from producing countries, such as Brazil, Indonesia and Malaysia.

In a joint statement, the confectionery giants warned that further delays by the European parliament would leave firms reliant on cocoa and rubber imports vulnerable due to uncertainty in sourcing materials...