Cocoa and chocolate products intended for human consumption

The European Parliament has adopted, under the codecision procedure, the report drafted by Mr. Paul LANNOYE (GUE/EFA, Belg) for a resolution on the common position adopted by the Council with a view to adopting a European Parliament and Council Directive relating to cocoa and chocolate products intended for human consumption. One new Article was included in the report which stated that "cocoa, cocoa butter and a series of other vegetable fats used in the manufacture of chocolate are mainly produced in the developing countries; it is in the interests of people living in developing countries that agreements of as long a duration as possible should be concluded; the Commission should, therefore, consider how the Community can support this in the case of the cocoa butter and other vegetable fats (for example by promoting 'fair trade')".�