EU bans food products linked with deforestation
The EU has banned products linked to deforestation in a move that could impact meat producers and cocoa and palm-oil suppliers.
However, it has faced some pushback from palm-oil producing countries. Malaysia said it was disappointed with the move, describing it as “woefully-misguided” and accusing the EU of “erecting protectionist barriers”.
The EU’s legislative body – the European Parliament – adopted the new law yesterday (19 April). It rules that companies will only be allowed to sell products in the EU if the supplier of the product has issued a so-called due diligence statement confirming they do not come from deforested land or have led to forest degradation since 31 December 2020.
Companies will also have to verify that their products comply with relevant legislation of the country of production, including on human rights, and that the rights of affected indigenous people have been respected.
The EU says that an area larger than the bloc was lost to deforestation between 1990 and 2020, with member state consumption causing around 10% of losses. Deforestation is linked to rising greenhouse gas emissions, which drive climate change.
Beyond food, other products covered by the new law are coffee, soya, wood, rubber, charcoal and printed paper.
By Andy Coyne | Just Food
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