Parliament will repeal the Cocoa Act (CAP 139) during its second extraordinary sitting.
The Cocoa Act, passed in 1982, was established to regulate licensing, control quality and export standards, and provide financial and technical support to boost cocoa production across Vanuatu.
According to the Explanatory Note of the Cocoa (Repeal) Bill No. of 2025, the functions of the Cocoa Act have already been integrated into the Agriculture Act No. 17 of 2018, which was further amended in 2024 to cover all key agricultural sectors.
The updated Agriculture Act now includes crops such as cocoa, kava, and coconut, as well as livestock and fisheries. It also promotes local investment, permit systems, farmer support programs, and climate resilience measures.
Cocoa remains an important cash crop in rural communities, with between 1,000 and 2,000 tonnes exported each year.
By repealing the old Cocoa Act and operating under the Agriculture Act, the government aims to streamline policies and strengthen cocoa production and the wider agriculture industry in Vanuatu.
