The European Commission has announced a proposal to delay the implementation of its landmark anti-deforestation law, which aims to ban the import of commodities linked to deforestation, by an additional year. This decision comes in response to requests from various industries and governments worldwide.
The law, known as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), has been recognized as a significant step in combating climate change. However, countries like Brazil and Malaysia have criticized it as protectionist, warning that it could exclude millions of small-scale farmers from accessing the EU market. Industry representatives have also raised concerns that the regulation could disrupt supply chains in the EU and lead to increased prices for consumers.
In March, 20 of the EU’s 27 member states urged Brussels to reconsider the law, arguing it could negatively impact the bloc’s own farmers by preventing them from exporting goods produced on deforested land. The proposed delay requires approval from both the European Parliament and the member states.
Environmental advocates have condemned the delay, with Greenpeace stating that it undermines public demand for a halt to deforestation products. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) expressed skepticism about the Commission’s commitment to environmental promises, while the forestry campaign group Fern emphasized the urgent need for the law in light of ongoing environmental crises, such as wildfires in the Amazon.
The EUDR was set to take effect on December 30, requiring companies importing commodities such as soy, beef, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, timber, and rubber to demonstrate that their supply chains do not contribute to deforestation. This would involve mapping supply chains down to the specific plots where raw materials are grown, a task deemed complex due to the global nature of these supply chains.
Eurocommerce, representing the European retail sector, welcomed the Commission’s acknowledgment of compliance concerns and potential disruptions. The EU maintains that the EUDR is essential to eliminate its role in global deforestation, which is the second leading cause of climate change after fossil fuel combustion.