The European Cocoa Association (ECA) has called for cocoa to be exempted from proposed European Union rules on origin labelling, arguing the regulations could lead to significantly higher prices.
The European Commission is due to report by Dec. 13 on how it will implement mandatory labelling rules which could apply to ingredients constituting more than 50 percent of a food item, including cocoa in some chocolate bars.
The Brussels-based ECA, whose members include Barry Callebaut AG, Archer Daniels Midland Co, Olam International Ltd and Cargill, said in a statement the rules would "severely affect the availability of supply, current production, trade flows and marketing practices.
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