Germany pushes for postponement of EU deforestation law
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- 07 Oct 2024
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The EU's new Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR), which aims to prevent the importation of goods linked to deforestation, is facing uncertainty as Germany pushes for a postponement of its enforcement.
Originally set to take effect in December 2024, the law requires companies importing or exporting certain commodities, such as soy, palm oil, and cattle, to demonstrate that their products are not tied to deforestation or forest degradation, in compliance with the regulation's strict traceability and due diligence requirements.
German Food and Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir has called for a six-month delay, arguing that companies need more time to prepare for the regulation and that immediate enforcement could disrupt supply chains, harm small farmers in third countries, and negatively impact the European economy.
His concerns have been echoed by conservative members of the European Parliament (MEPs), who label the law as overly bureaucratic and potentially damaging to trade, particularly in sectors like animal feed.
Despite these calls for postponement, centre-left MEPs are pushing for the regulation to be enforced on schedule. They have written to the European Commission urging it to finalise compliance guidelines and create a user-friendly IT system for companies to submit required documentation. These MEPs argue that delaying the law would undermine its objectives to combat deforestation and environmental degradation.
The tension reflects a broader shift in the EU's political landscape, with a more conservative European Parliament and Commission following the 2024 elections. Many are now questioning whether environmental laws, such as the EUDR, will be diluted or delayed under the new conservative leadership.
The EUDR is seen as a critical test of the EU's commitment to environmental regulations in this new term, with potential consequences for global supply chains, particularly in relation to smallholder farmers and developing nations.
