EU Deforestation Law Delayed
Parliament and Council Fail to Reach Agreement
The European Union's proposed law to combat deforestation has been delayed after the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union failed to reach an agreement on the final text. The legislation, which was first proposed in 2021, aims to reduce the EU's contribution to global deforestation by prohibiting the import of certain commodities linked to forest destruction, such as beef, soy, palm oil, wood, and cocoa.
Key Points of the Proposed Law
- Prohibit the import of certain commodities linked to deforestation, such as beef, soy, palm oil, wood, and cocoa.
- Require companies to conduct due diligence to ensure that their supply chains are not contributing to deforestation.
- Establish a monitoring system to track deforestation and identify areas at risk.
Reasons for the Delay
The delay in the adoption of the law is due to disagreements between the Parliament and the Council over the scope of the legislation. The Parliament wants the law to apply to all products that contribute to deforestation, while the Council wants to limit its scope to the five commodities listed above.
Another point of contention is the level of due diligence required from companies. The Parliament wants companies to be required to conduct thorough due diligence, while the Council wants to allow companies to use self-certification to demonstrate compliance.
Next Steps
The Parliament and the Council will now need to resume negotiations to try to reach an agreement on the final text of the law. It is unclear when these negotiations will resume, but it is likely that the law will not be adopted before the end of 2023.
Impact of the Delay
The delay in the adoption of the law is a setback for efforts to combat deforestation. The EU is one of the world's largest consumers of products that contribute to deforestation, and its law could have a significant impact on the global market for these commodities.
The delay also sends a negative signal to other countries that are considering adopting similar legislation. The EU has been a leader in the fight against deforestation, and its law could have served as a model for other countries to follow.
