> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://thechocolatelife.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # EUDR Update: Legislator’s Remorse? | #PodSaveChocolate Ep 137 - URL: https://thechocolatelife.com/eudr-update-legislators-remorse-podsavechocolate-ep-137/ - Published: 2025-07-24T19:20:04.000Z - Updated: 2025-07-26T18:17:12.000Z - Description: Episode 137 explores some implications of a recent vote by the EU Parliament to amend the EUDR, as well as calls to delay (again) it coming into force. [Updated to include links to other episodes dedicated to EUDR coverage.] - Author: Clay Gordon - Tags: PodSaveChocolate, Live Stream **When and Where to Watch** 🗓️ The stream airs LIVE at 11:00 ****PDT/MST** (12:00 MDT, 1:00 CDT, 2:00 EDT), on Friday, July 25th, 2025. Links below to watch LIVE and to view the archived episode. Click on this (shareable) link to watch on YouTube. Please subscribe (free!) to the [@PodSaveChocolate YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@podsavechocolate/featured?ref=thechocolatelife.com), like this video, comment, and ****share** this episode to help grow the #PSC community. This ****LINKEDIN** link is shareable. [![CTA Image](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/05/LinkedInLogo.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/claygordon%5Flavidacocoa-thechocolatelife-cacao-activity-7354221436590288897-9u2U?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop&rcm=ACoAAAABaLUB44l0lzyoZ9nf9Lg8nfstgzLqxbg) Watch and comment LIVE or view the archived episode on LinkedIn. Join my network on LinkedIn to receive notifications and to refer business to each other. [Watch this episode on LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/claygordon%5Flavidacocoa-thechocolatelife-cacao-activity-7354221436590288897-9u2U?utm%5Fsource=share&utm%5Fmedium=member%5Fdesktop&rcm=ACoAAAABaLUB44l0lzyoZ9nf9Lg8nfstgzLqxbg) This ****FACEBOOK** link is shareab [![CTA Image](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2025/05/FacebookLogo.png)](https://www.facebook.com/events/2215720252184162/) Watch and comment LIVE or view the archived episode on ****TheChocolateLife page** on Facebook (for 30 days, then watch the archive on YouTube). Follow [TheChocolateLife on Facebook ](https://fb.me/thechocolatelife?ref=thechocolatelife.com)to receive notifications and catch up on other content. [Watch this episode on Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/events/2215720252184162/) --- ## **Episode 137 Overview** ### **TL;DR** *With less than six months before the EUDR becomes law, the latest draft changes *would drastically weaken* ⋯ i.e., completely undermine and derail ⋯ the original purpose and intent of the legislation *and* have blowback implications for the CSDDD and related initiatives.* > The EU Parliament voted (on July 9th) to amend the EUDR with two-thirds of EU ag ministers pushing for a “no risk” category. > > Although the vote is non-binding, the vote signals that pressure is growing to revise the legislation. > > **Recap:** The EUDR is NOT designed to “wipe out deforestation from EU supply chains.” It was created to eliminate future deforestation from “at-risk” commodities ⋯ soy, palm oil, rubber, cocoa, coffee, beef, and timber. Different actors are urging changes and delays for different reasons, pointing fingers for their reasons at challenges at each end of the supply chain. But one fact seems to stand out: No EU Member State (nor EU central governance) is prepared to manage the cost and drain on other resources that the onslaught of data compliance reporting, oversight, and other tasks will require. #### Raising objections after the horses have fled the barn (click the 🔽 » to expand) In a letter signed by the Ag ministers of two-thirds of EU Member States, the ministers pointed out: “Instead of targeting deforestation where the risk is highest, the regulation imposes disproportionate bureaucratic obligations on countries where deforestation is demonstrably insignificant.” > Those objections are, in my opinion, a strawman of the purpose and intent of the EUDR and how it reveals the abandonment of responsibility by the EU, Big Chocolate, and other actors. #### The “Negligble Risk” Loophole Proposed draft changes introduce a new risk tiering system that includes 'negligible' or 'very low' risk countries. Commodities originating from, **or transiting through*, these designated countries could be: ****Exempt from key due diligence checks**, including plot-level GPS data and supply chain mapping ****Subject to reduced enforcement scrutiny**, even for high-risk commodities like cocoa ****Cleared for EU import without full traceability or deforestation risk assessment** **— Source: Cocoa Radar* #### Other Proposed Amendments The “negligible risk” classification is part of a broader package of proposed revisions: ****Reuse of due diligence statements**: Allowing annual, rather than shipment-specific filings ****“No-risk” country status**: An even lighter-touch category under which ***no** *due diligence* is required ****Delayed or staggered implementation**: Several Member States, including Austria, Italy, and Luxembourg, have urged postponement of enforcement, citing competitiveness and administrative burdens **— Source: Cocoa Radar* #### Who’s Also Pushing for Delays? In addition to the EU Member States mentioned above (Austria, Italy, and Luxembourg), ****Mondelēz** is pushing for another twelve-month delay because “... it doubts that smallholder farmers will be ready,” according to Mondelēz’s EU VP for Communications and Government Affairs. Successful implementation must reflect “... on-the-ground realities \[...\] especially for smallholder farmers in the countries of origin.” ****Lavazza** is also lobbying for delays. **— Source: Confectionery News* #### Who is Against Delays? ****Mars** has publicly joined other major food and drink manufacturers—including ****Nestlé**, ****Tony’s**, ****Ferrero** (which recently purchased WK Kellog), and ****Unilever**—in opposing any more delays. ****Hershey’s** public stance on the negligible risk draft is not documented, and it has not joined calls to delay implementation. [Regulation on Deforestation-free productsEU rules to guarantee that the products EU citizens consume do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation worldwide.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/favicon-2.svg)Environment![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/ec-socialmedia-fallback-1.png)](https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/forests/deforestation/regulation-deforestation-free-products%5Fen?ref=thechocolatelife.com) EUDR home page on the EU website, --- ### **Prior Episodes With EUDR in the Title** [The EUDR and You – w/ Antonie Fountain | #PodSaveChocolateEpisode 9 of #PodSaveChocolate features Antonie Fountain of the VOICE Network. Starting time: 10 am PST / 1 pm EST / 6 pm GMT on December 19th, 2023.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons-209.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/Ep-009---EUDR-Good-Bad-Ugly---Featured1920x1080-1.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/the-eudr-and-you-w-antonie-fountain-podsavechocolate/) [The EUDR, CSDDD, CSRD, and ESRS | #PodSaveChocolate Ep82Episode 82 of #PodSaveChocolate features an exploration of four related EU regulations that affect the cocoa and chocolate industries – how they relate and who needs to worry about compliance will be addressed.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons-210.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/Ep-082-EUDR-CSDDD-CSRD---Featured1920x1080-1.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/the-eudr-csddd-and-csrd-podsavechocolate-ep82/) [December News/AMA – EUDR et al Update | #PodSaveChocolate Ep85Episode 85 of #PodSaveChocolate features an interview with Marc Donaldson about the alphabet soup that is the EUDR/CSDDD/CSRD/ESRS in response to #PSC episode 82\. The chocolate news that’s fit to eat and AMA for December.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/icon/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons-211.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/thumbnail/Ep-085-Dec-News-AMA---Featured1920x1080-1.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/december-news-ama-eudr-et-al-update-podsavechocolate-ep85/) --- ### **Questions?** If you have questions or want to comment, you can do so during the episode or, if you are a ChocolateLife member, you can add them in the Comments below at ***any*** time. --- ### **Episode Hashtags and Socials** #EUDR #cocoa #cacao #cacau #chocolate #chocolat #craftchocolate #PodSaveChoc #PSC #LaVidaCocoa #TheChocolateLife --- ### **Future Episodes** 🗓️ None scheduled at the time this was published. --- ### **#PodSaveChocolate and #TheChocolateLifeLIVE Archives** **To read an archived post** and find the links to watch archived episodes, click on one of the bookmark cards, below. [Pod Save Chocolate Calendar and ArchiveNews, views, and conversations on topics in cocoa and chocolate streamed live to YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook. #PodSaveChocolate!![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2020/12/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2023/11/TagImageBanner-PodSaveChocTagFinal_1920x1080-5.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/pod-save-chocolate-calendar-and-archive/) [#TheChocolateLifeLIVE ArchiveNews, views, and conversations on topics in cocoa and chocolate streamed live to YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook.![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2020/12/JR_Pods60x60FavIconCutoutButtons.png)The Chocolate LifeClay Gordon![](https://thechocolatelife.com/content/images/2023/03/solen-feyissa-WG7v_wYZW4Q-unsplash-CalendarFeatured1920x1080.jpg)](https://thechocolatelife.com/thechocolatelife-live-calendar/) [PodSaveChocolateHosted by Clay Gordon, the creator and moderator of TheChocolateLife.com, #PodSaveChocolate covers a wide variety of topics in the worlds of cocoa and chocolate. The video versions of this podcast are hosted and archived on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Click on the PodSaveChocolate link in the top nav on TheChocolateLife for the links to the post accompanying each episode.![](https://pnc.st/static/img/256x256.png)Pinecast![](https://social.pinecast.net/preview_card/podcasts/covers/d3730dca-0711-4720-9ef3-3b18918c1f0d/TagImageBanner-PodSaveChocTagFinal_1920x1080.jpg?title=PodSaveChocolate)](https://pnc.st/s/podsavechocolate?ref=thechocolatelife.com) Audio-only podcasts --- ## Not a Member? Live The Chocolate Life – Live La Vida Cocoa! Sign up for Free to comment and receive members-only content. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Premium subscriptions available.