Senate Votes Project Defining Minimum percentage of Cocoa in Chocolate | Method
Federal Senate voted Thursday (24) a The bill to establish a minimum percentage of cocoa in products obtained from fruit sold in Brazil. This text is trying to control the composition of chocolate made in the country and still needs to be accepted by the House of Representatives and become the Republic presidency law.
The original author of the Senator Zequinha marinho (somos-pa) And the reporter of the Coronel (PSD-BA) of the Senator Angelo, the proposal updates and expands the rules already provided in the Anvisa Ordinance of 2022. In the main subjects:
- Dark or bitter chocolate: minimum 35% total cocoa solids (18% cocoa butter and 14% fat);
- Milk Chocolate: At least 25% total cocoa solids and 14% milk or derivatives;
- Chocolate Powder: At least 32%of total cocoa solids;
- White chocolate: minimum 20% cocoa butter and 14% milk or derivatives;
- Cocoa Powder: At least 10% cocoa butter and up to 9% humidity.
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Packaging is required for text to convey the cocoa percentage used in products. For the Colonel, this proposal is to ensure the transparency of consumer and prevent information that misleads on labeling.
Zekinha Marinho points out that the control of the sector is a progress, although Brazilian percentage is still lower than those required for countries like Belgium and Switzerland. Para Senator argues that this measure promotes national cocoa production, focusing on strengthening the product chain led by the para.
“The Inova Cocaao 2030 plan is already a significant growth of the crop. With the approval of the project, we can accelerate the process and create a more competitive atmosphere for this sector,” said Marinho.
*(IURE Costa, reporter at International, Policy and Economics Center under the supervision of Emily Mello)
