European Commission Proposes 12-Month Delay to Deforestation Regulation

On Wednesday, the European Commission said it would propose delaying implementation of a law banning the import of commodities linked to deforestation by a year, following calls from industries and governments from around the world, Reuters reported (10-2-24).

The law has been hailed as a landmark in the fight against climate change, but countries and industries from Brazil to Malaysia say it is protectionist and could end up excluding millions of poor, small-scale farmers from the EU market. There were also widespread warnings from industry that the EU deforestation regulation (EUDR) would disrupt the European Union’s supply chains and push up prices.

Some 20 of the EU’s 27 member states asked Brussels in March to scale back and possibly suspend the law, saying it would harm the bloc’s own farmers, who would be banned from exporting products grown on deforested land.

The proposal would need the approval of the European Parliament and member states, the Commission said. It added that it was also publishing additional guidance documents.

EU leaders have watered down numerous environmental measures this year to try to quell months of farmers’ protests over issues including the bloc’s green policies and cheap imports.

The full proposal, including the guidance documents, is available here.