Mondelēz Allegedly Spent €1.5M Lobbying Against EU Deforestation

EU Deforestation Regulation and Lobbying Claims

Environmental watchdog Global Witness reports that food conglomerate Mondelēz International has allegedly engaged in extensive lobbying efforts to weaken and postpone the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

Since 2023, the owner of brands like Cadbury and Oreo is said to have spent between 1.2 and 1.5 million euros (approximately US$1.4 to US$1.7 million) on these activities. The EUDR mandates that companies importing forest products, including cocoa, into the EU must demonstrate these products were not sourced from land deforested after December 31, 2020. The regulation, initially planned for implementation in 2024, is now set to take effect from December 31, 2026.

Mondelēz's Shifting Stance and Specific Actions

Global Witness details several alleged actions by Mondelēz. In June, Mondelēz CEO Dirk Van De Put reportedly met with Andrew Puzder, the U.S. ambassador to the EU, in Brussels, just months before a September 18 European Parliament and Council vote on regulatory simplifications.

While Mondelēz initially supported due diligence rules and opposed delays to the EUDR as part of the EU Cocoa Coalition, alongside companies like Mars and Nestlé, the company reportedly changed its position in July 2025, advocating for a 12-month delay.

The NGO also states that Mondelēz extensively lobbied officials in Brussels and national governments in France, Germany, Ireland, and Luxembourg in the lead-up to a second delay proposal by the European Commission later this year.

Supply Chain Transparency Concerns

Global Witness highlights that Mondelēz is the only major chocolate manufacturer it analyzed that does not publicly disclose the percentage of its cocoa supply chain that is deforestation-free.

The NGO's report suggests Mondelēz remains vulnerable to cocoa-driven deforestation, particularly in West Africa, including Liberia, due to its continued use of an untraceable sourcing system.

Bakary Traoré, executive director of the Ivorian NGO Initiatives for Community Development and Forest Conservation (IDEF), told Global Witness that Mondelēz "has sought to sabotage the regulation by launching an aggressive campaign to oppose its implementation." Antonie Fountain, who leads the NGO coalition VOICE Network, attributes Mondelēz's resistance to insufficient preparation for the law.

Implications for Asian Forest Product Exporters

The European Union Deforestation Regulation extends beyond cocoa to cover a broad range of forest products, including timber, plywood, and furniture, which are significant exports from Asia to the EU. The alleged lobbying efforts by a major corporation like Mondelēz underscore the ongoing challenges and resistance to implementing stringent sustainability regulations.

Asian manufacturers and exporters of wood-based building materials and FF&E to the EU must prepare for the December 31, 2026, enforcement date by establishing robust due diligence systems. This requires verifiable documentation proving their products do not originate from land deforested after December 31, 2020.

Suppliers should anticipate increased scrutiny on their supply chains and be ready to provide clear evidence of compliance to maintain market access in the EU.