Market
Cascara (coffee cherry pulp/husk) in France is a niche, import-dependent beverage-infusion ingredient marketed as “coffee cherry pulp”/“cascara” under EU novel food rules. The EU has authorised dried coffee cherry pulp and its infusion for use in tea/herbal- and fruit-infusions and in flavoured/unflavoured non-alcoholic ready-to-drink beverages, subject to defined specifications and labelling requirements. Market access risk is dominated by regulatory compliance (novel food designation, caffeine-related labelling thresholds, and adherence to contaminant and microbiological limits). For imports into France, official controls for certain non-animal origin foods and quality/sanitary checks at entry are handled by French Customs (DGDDI). Upcoming EU deforestation-free due diligence requirements for coffee supply chains can increase traceability and origin-data expectations for coffee-derived products placed on the EU market.
Market RoleImport-dependent consumer market
Domestic RoleSpecialty beverage ingredient for infusions and non-alcoholic drinks placed on the French/EU market under EU novel food authorisation
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighNon-compliance with the EU authorisation conditions for coffee cherry pulp (“cascara”)—including failure to meet the authorised specification limits and mandatory labelling rules (notably caffeine-related labelling where applicable)—can make the product non-marketable in France/EU and trigger border holds, withdrawal, or enforcement action.Contractually require EU-authorisation-aligned specifications and lot-level COAs; pre-approve label text/designation and apply caffeine-warning rules when finished beverages exceed the 150 mg/L threshold.
Food Safety MediumCascara is subject to explicit maximum limits for mycotoxins (e.g., ochratoxin A and aflatoxins), heavy metals, PAHs, and microbiological criteria; failures can result in rejection, recalls, or increased frequency of controls.Implement a risk-based testing plan aligned to the authorised limits (mycotoxins, metals, PAHs, microbiology) and moisture/aw controls across storage and transport.
Sustainability MediumEU deforestation-free due diligence requirements for coffee supply chains are scheduled to apply from 30 December 2026 for large/medium operators (later for micro/small), potentially increasing documentation and origin-data demands and creating market-access friction if suppliers cannot provide required information.Confirm whether the cascara product/HS code is in scope as a coffee-derived product; build supplier onboarding to capture origin and traceability data ahead of the EUDR application date.
Labor And Human Rights MediumCoffee supply chains have documented child-labour risk drivers (poverty, price volatility, climate impacts), which can create reputational and buyer compliance barriers for coffee-derived products marketed in France/EU.Adopt supplier codes aligned to ILO principles, perform origin-risk screening, and prioritize verified sourcing programs with credible third-party auditing and remediation pathways.
Sustainability- EU deforestation-free due diligence exposure for coffee supply chains (coffee is explicitly in scope of the EU Deforestation Regulation), increasing expectations for origin/traceability and risk screening for coffee-derived products placed on the EU market.
Labor & Social- Child labour risk in coffee supply chains is recognised as a high-risk area and is the focus of an EU-funded UN-agency project led by ILO with FAO, ITC and UNICEF, implying elevated human-rights due diligence expectations for coffee-derived products such as cascara.
FAQ
Is cascara (coffee cherry pulp) legally authorised for sale in France as a tea-like infusion ingredient?Yes. At EU level, dried coffee cherry pulp (also referred to as “cascara”) and its infusion are authorised as a traditional food from a third country under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/47, which applies in all Member States including France, subject to the listed conditions of use, specifications, and labelling requirements.
What are the key EU labelling requirements to watch for when selling cascara-based drinks in France?EU rules require using the authorised designation on the label (e.g., “coffee cherry pulp” and/or “cascara (coffee cherry pulp)”, and/or the corresponding infusion designations). If the product contains more than 150 mg/L caffeine (as sold or after reconstitution), it must carry the ‘High caffeine content. Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women’ warning and state caffeine content in mg per 100 ml.
What specification checks are most likely to be requested by EU/French buyers for cascara lots?The EU authorisation includes explicit limits for moisture and water activity, microbiological criteria (including Salmonella absence), mycotoxins (ochratoxin A and aflatoxins), heavy metals, and PAHs, and it references compliance with EU pesticide MRL rules. Buyers commonly translate these into lot-level COA requirements aligned to those limits.