Tony’s Chocoloney is the initiator of this call. In a letter to the Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sigrid Kaag, the companies write: “Dutch companies contribute a lot to international development and the solution of major issues of our time such as poverty, injustice and climate change. Unfortunately, companies are often direct and indirectly involved in their negative impact on people and the environment through their international chains.

This problem is not being taken seriously enough and current enforcement is inadequate. It takes more than voluntary cooperation to tackle the problem.”

According to the signees, international business with respect for human rights and the environment must be the norm for all products and services on the Dutch market. With legislation as part of a thoughtful policy, the Dutch government can determine that standard.