EU agrees law preventing import of goods linked to deforestation, including coffee, soy, palm oil
- Ban includes the import of several products considered ‘main drivers of deforestation’, like coffee, cocoa, soy, palm oil, the European Commission said
- Countries including Brazil, Indonesia, Colombia and Malaysia have criticised the EU plan, warning that the rules will be burdensome and costly
The European Union agreed on Tuesday to a new law to prevent companies from selling into the EU market soy, beef, coffee and other commodities linked to deforestation around the world.
The law will require firms to produce a due diligence statement proving that their supply chains are not contributing to the destruction of forests before they sell goods into the EU, or they could face hefty fines.
“I hope that this innovative regulation will give impetus to the protection of forests around the globe and inspire other countries at the COP15,” said the European Parliament’s lead negotiator, Christophe Hansen.
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Negotiators from EU countries and the European Parliament struck the deal on the law early on Tuesday.
It will apply to soy, beef, palm oil, wood, cocoa and coffee, and some derived products including leather, chocolate and furniture. Rubber, charcoal and some palm oil derivatives were included at the request of EU lawmakers.
Companies would need to show when and where the commodities were produced and “verifiable” information that they are deforestation-free – meaning they were not grown on land deforested after 2020.