The Senate approved a bill that defines new minimum cocoa percentages for products sold as chocolate. The proposal now goes to President Lula for signing.
The project attempts to close a long-standing loophole in the Brazilian market, where products with low cocoa content can currently be sold as chocolate. Current legislation requires a minimum of 25% cocoa for a product to be classified as chocolate, but the new project raises this floor to 35% total cocoa solids.
The Senate approved the bill that increases the minimum cocoa percentage in chocolates
The project goes to President Lula for signing
Milk chocolate must have a minimum of 25% total cocoa solids and 14% total milk solids
White chocolate maintains the minimum of 20% cocoa butter and must have 14% total milk solids
Chocolate powder must have a minimum of 32% total cocoa solids
The rules take effect 360 days after the law's publication
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (3)
The law requires that the cocoa percentage be displayed prominently on the front of the packaging
The previous minimum percentage for chocolate was 25% cocoa
Regular chocolate now requires a minimum of 35% total cocoa solids
No gaps declared — all sources converge on the material facts.