Advertisement
The European Union has announced that it will delay the implementation of its anti-deforestation law by another year, marking the second postponement of the measure. The legislation, which seeks to prevent imports of commodities such as palm oil, beef and soy linked to deforestation, faced pushback from trade partners including the United States, Brazil and Indonesia, alongside concerns from European producers. Officials stated that the delay was due to unresolved issues with IT systems required for monitoring compliance. Environmental campaigners have strongly criticised the decision.
The European Union decided to postpone its anti-deforestation law for a second consecutive year, with Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall confirming the extension. The legislation, designed to ban imports of products such as palm oil associated with forest destruction, had already been pushed back once, yet industry opposition and international objections had continued to mount. Advertisement
Roswall explained that the delay was not linked to political pressure from the United States, but rather to concerns regarding the readiness of the information-technology infrastructure required to support the regulation. She indicated that the system must process vast amounts of data, and warned that it risked slowing down to unacceptable levels, potentially disrupting trade. She further noted that the additional time would allow the Commission to assess different risks linked to the system.
The policy, regarded as the first of its kind worldwide, was intended to take effect at the end of the year and would have obliged companies selling soy, beef, palm oil and similar goods into the EU to demonstrate that their products were not linked to deforestation. The measure formed part of Europe's broader environmental agenda, aiming to curb the 10% of global deforestation attributed to EU consumption of imported goods.
Trade partners such as Brazil, Indonesia and the United States had previously raised objections, arguing that compliance costs would weigh heavily on exporters. As part of a trade agreement, the EU had already pledged to address the concerns of American producers, with the US paper and pulp industry demanding exemptions from the rules. Within Europe, countries including Poland and Austria had also raised doubts over the feasibility of the traceability standards imposed on domestic producers.
Environmental groups condemned the new delay. Campaigners from Fern stated that each day of inaction contributed to further forest loss, worsening wildfires and extreme weather events. The decision still requires approval from the European Parliament and EU member states.
While officials pointed to technical shortcomings in IT systems as the reason for the delay, critics argued that any postponement undermines efforts to address climate and biodiversity challenges. With exporters and European producers alike voicing concerns about compliance, and environmental groups pressing for urgent action, the revised timeline has left the regulation at the centre of political and commercial contention.
Source - Reuters
5th Jun, 2025
25th May, 2023
11th May, 2023
27th Apr, 2023
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
