Deforestation: Commission risks hacking away at forest protection

Today, the Commission unveiled its proposal to address the IT problem that could delay the implementation of the regulation against imported deforestation (EUDR). The proposal maintains the entry into force of the regulation for large companies and first placing on the market. It also retains product traceability. However, it delays its application to certain categories of companies by one year and sanctions by six months. In addition, it exempts downstream actors from the duty of due diligence.

Marie Toussaint MEP, Vice-President of the Greens/EFA Group and shadow rapporteur on the EUDR, comments:

"The Commission is weakening the deforestation regulation at the very moment when it should be defending it. Every exemption, every additional delay, is time given to deforestation.

“Rather than publishing technical guidelines to temporarily circumvent IT difficulties, the Commission is proposing a new text, bowing to pressure from the right and agro-industrial lobbies. This choice sets a dangerous precedent.”

Virginijus Sinkevičius MEP, Vice-President of the Greens/EFA Group and former Commissioner who presented the EUDR, comments: 

“By opening up the whole Deforestation Regulation, the Commission risks giving the right a free hand to hack away at this crucial legislation under the guise of deregulation. This risks undermining this crucial legislation when it is needed most. 

“Every day that the EU allows deforested timber into its market is a gift to illegal loggers at the expense of the climate. The world’s forests are our lungs, our carbon sinks and essential for our future on this planet. We cannot allow the right to bulldoze this law.”