The two institutions announced this on Tuesday night. “The EU is a major consumer and trader of commodities that contribute significantly to deforestation, such as beef, cocoa, soy and timber,” said Czech Environment Minister Marian Jurecka. His country will hold the regular rotating presidency among EU countries until the end of the year.
The new rules also apply to goods that contain, feed on or are made from listed raw materials. Examples are leather, chocolate and furniture. As the EU Parliament explained, MEPs in the negotiations mandated that the rules also include rubber, charcoal and printed paper products. Within two years it will be checked whether other goods need to be included.
SPD MP Delara Burkhardt has criticized that it is perfectly legal to cut down the Amazon rainforest, sell wood in the EU and feed cattle on the freed land and offer steaks in European supermarkets. “It will be over soon.”
The compromise still requires the approval of Parliament and EU countries. The new law will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the EU Official Journal, with a transitional period of 18 months in some parts. In particular, companies must submit a due diligence statement that goods sold on the EU market do not cause deforestation and forest degradation anywhere. The deadline for deforestation is 31 December 2020. Violators risk fines.
Christophe Hansen, the parliament’s Christian Democrat negotiator, spoke of a strong and ambitious outcome. Greens MP Anna Cavazzini also welcomed the deal. However, he criticized the fact that the law does not protect more forested areas than currently planned.
(SDA)