New European Union regulations aimed at combating deforestation will significantly alter the trade of cocoa, particularly from West Africa, which supplies 70% of global production. The rules, effective later this year, require importers to trace cocoa back to individual farms and verify it wasn't grown on land deforested after a specific date. Major cocoa producers like Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, and Ghana are preparing by mapping farms and implementing traceability systems. While increasing supply chain transparency, these changes necessitate investment in mapping, verification, and digital tracking for producers. These investments are likely to drive up cocoa prices, potentially leading to higher costs for consumers purchasing chocolate. The regulations impact hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers, many operating in remote areas, and require adaptation to continue exporting to the EU market.