The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that 420 million hectares of forest – an area larger than the EU – were lost to deforestation between 1990 and 2020. EU consumption accounts for about 10% of global deforestation. Palm oil and soy account for more than two-thirds of this. The Deforestation Regulation, adopted by Parliamenton April 19, 2023, aimed to combat climate change and biodiversity loss by preventing deforestation associated with EU consumption of cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soy, wood, rubber, charcoal and printed paper products. Already in effect as of June 29, 2023, the rules were to be applied by companies as of December 30, 2024. The European Parliament voted to delay the legislation’s entry into force. Responding to concerns raised by EU member states, non-EU countries, traders and operators that they would not be able to fully comply with the regulations if they applied from the end of 2024, the European Commission proposed delaying the start date of the deforestation regulation by one year. At a plenary meeting in October 2024, it was agreed that the proposal would be considered under the urgent procedure – Rule 170(6). The European Parliament agreed to this postponement, as well as other amendments, by a vote of 371 to 240. Large operators and traders would have to comply with the regulation’s obligations as of Dec. 30, 2025, while micro and small businesses would have until June 30, 2026. This additional time would help operators around the world smoothly implement the regulations from the outset without undermining the law’s objectives.

Parliament also adopted other amendments proposed by the political groups, including the creation of a new category of countries posing “no risk” of deforestation, in addition to the existing three categories of “low,” “standard” and “high” risk. Countries classified as “no risk,” defined as those with stable or growing forest areas, would face much less stringent requirements because the risk of deforestation is negligible or nonexistent. The delay of another important legislation follows on the heels of the European Commission’s and EP’s efforts, initiated in March 2022. Despite the escalating EU climate crisis, policymakers are keeping the side of industry and interest groups by either delaying or abandoning the regulations and ambitions of the Farm-to-Table Strategy.”

Credit. Unsplash, compiled from EP press release