BY NED GAGAHE

Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele says the Government will work through its existing trade arrangements with the European Union (EU) as Solomon Islands faces a looming deadline to comply with the EU’s new anti-deforestation regulations – rules that could impact the country’s cocoa and palm oil exports.

Speaking during a press conference on Friday, 28 November 2025, the Prime Minister confirmed he was aware of the concerns raised regarding the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and its potential implications for local exporters.

“I did read or hear about that piece of news. We do have an economic partnership arrangement or agreement with the European Union. Under this, we export tuna products. So that arrangement is already in place,” he said.

PM Manele acknowledged that the EU typically maintains “very strong positions on the environment, including forestry,” noting that ongoing discussions will determine how cocoa and possibly palm oil will be affected under the new rules.

“Without pre-empting, because those discussions are ongoing now… it will take place within the context of the arrangements.

“The Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be the agencies that will take part in the discussions. So, we will wait for those discussions when they come and see how it goes,” he said.

He reiterated that the EU’s environmental and forestry standards are high, and Solomon Islands will need to engage constructively when formal talks begin.

The Prime Minister’s comments follow serious warnings delivered during the country’s first-ever forum on the EUDR, held on Thursday 27 November at the Art Gallery.

Experts say Solomon Islands has less than 12 months left before the EU’s anti-deforestation rules become fully enforceable in December 2025—placing premium cocoa and palm oil exports at risk unless strict new conditions are met.

James Kana, the EUDR Consultant and Chair of the Cocoa Working Group, told stakeholders that exporters must now prove their products are not linked to 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,” Kana warned.

For Solomon Islands, the most affected commodities are cocoa and palm oil. The new rules require:

• GPS or satellite mapping of all cocoa farms
• Full traceability from farm to EU importer
• Digital submission of geolocation data to the EU system
• Legal proof of land ownership and production legitimacy

“All cocoa products—beans, paste, powder, fat, even leaves and shells—must meet these requirements,” he added.

Kana said compliance cannot be left to farmers and exporters alone. Government involvement, legal frameworks, and national data-collection systems will be essential.

Cocoa remains one of the country’s most important rural income sources, sustaining thousands of families.

Local exporter Diana Yates of Cathliro Commodities also urged the Government to help secure funding and develop traceability systems, warning that failure to comply would directly impact rural livelihoods and the national economy.

“We must not see this only as a threat. If we adapt, we can continue to access one of the world’s most valuable markets,” Kana stressed.

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