SI faces urgent deadline to meet tough EU anti-deforestation rules
BY NED GAGAHE
SOLOMON ISLANDS is racing against time as the European Union’s new anti-deforestation law moves toward full enforcement in December 2025—putting the country’s premium cocoa and palm oil exports at serious risk unless strict new conditions are met.
James Kana, the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) Consultant and Chair of the Cocoa Working Group, shared this on Wednesday November 27, 2025 during the country’s first-ever forum on the EUDR regulation at the Art Gallery.
Kana told stakeholders that the regulation will fundamentally change how Solomon Islands trades with Europe, stressing that exporters must now prove that cocoa and other commodities do not come from land deforested after 31 December 2020.
“The European Union is one of the biggest markets in the world. Once they enforce this regulation, any country that does not comply will simply lose access,” he said.
Moses Pelomo, SICCI Cocoa Working Group Advisor, said the regulation affects all EUDR-listed commodities, and for Solomon Islands the most relevant are palm oil and cocoa.
He said the cocoa industry, in particular, will face extensive new requirements related to traceability, geolocation data, legal documentation, and supply-chain transparency.
“This includes all cocoa derivatives such as beans, cocoa paste, cocoa powder, cocoa butter/fat, and even leaves and shells,” Pelomo added.
Cocoa—one of the country’s most important rural income sources—is among the commodities directly covered by the EUDR.
Kana explained that farmers, exporters, traders, and even shipping companies will now be required to meet strict traceability standards, including:
• GPS or satellite mapping of all cocoa farms
• Full supply-chain traceability from producer to EU importer
• Digital submission of geolocation data to the EU information system
• Legal proof of land ownership and production legitimacy
“All cocoa products—beans, paste, powder, fat, even leaves and shells—must meet these requirements,” Kana said.
He warned that the Solomon Islands could lose its long-standing access to the premium European cocoa market if systems are not set up soon.
Historically, Solomon Islands cocoa has earned premium prices in Europe because of its high quality.
Kana stressed that compliance cannot be carried by farmers alone, saying government involvement is essential in establishing legal frameworks and supporting data collection.
“This is not only about farmers and exporters. It involves regulators, data collectors, importers, and everyone in the logistics chain,” he said.
The EU had initially expected proof-of-concept readiness by 2024 but extended the timeline. However, Kana reminded the forum that extensions will not continue indefinitely, and full enforcement begins this December.
The historic forum was jointly organised by the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) and the Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI).
Although the EUDR officially came into force in June 2023, full implementation was postponed to 31 December 2025.
Cocoa remains a lifeline for thousands of rural households who rely on small but consistent earnings for school fees and daily needs. Any disruption to EU access, Kana warned, would have direct consequences on family livelihoods and the national economy.
“We must not see this only as a threat,” he said. “If we adapt, we can continue to access one of the world’s most valuable markets.”
Diana Yates, owner of Cathliro Commodities—a local exporter of cocoa to the EU—reinforced the importance of maintaining access to the European market, which remains a major buyer of profitable cocoa products.
She said exporters urgently need government support to secure funding and work with the right partners to develop EUDR-compliant mapping and traceability systems.
Yates called on government representatives at the forum to understand the challenges exporters face and to help secure the essential resources required for compliance.
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