EU law prohibiting imports of products that drive deforestation passed
Unless companies prove "precise geographical information on farmland" where the commodities were sourced, the products will not be sold on EU markets.
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EU bans imports of products that drive deforestation
The EU agreed on Tuesday to pass a new regulation banning the import of goods and products considered to contribute to deforestation, such as coffee, cocoa, and soy.
The text was initially proposed in November 2021 and was agreed upon today by members of the European Commission.
"The new law will ensure that a set of key goods placed on the (European Union) market will no longer contribute to deforestation and forest degradation in the EU and elsewhere in the world," said the commission, adding that "all relevant companies will have to conduct strict due diligence if they place on the EU market."
Among banned products are palm oil, cattle, soy, coffee, cocoa, timber, and rubber - unless companies prove that their products are deforestation-free.
Companies also have to prove "precise geographical information on farmland" where the commodities were sourced.
Major news before #COP15
— Virginijus Sinkevičius (@VSinkevicius) December 6, 2022
We just agreed with @Europarl_EN & @EUCouncil on the 1st law in the world to fight global deforestation!
We take responsibility for our EU 🇪🇺production & consumption in a historic moment to protect the world’s forests.https://t.co/7VA5DdkFYr pic.twitter.com/Hj6nItCtKB
"This is a first in the world!" said Pascal Canfin, the chairman of the European Parliament's environment committee, in a press release.
"It's the coffee we have for breakfast, the chocolate we eat, the coal in our barbecues, the paper in our books. This is radical," he said.
The next step involves EU members formally adopting the regulation before it can enter into force.
As for traders, they will have 18 months to implement the rules.
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