EU Council approves amendment to deforestation law timeline

Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The European Council today on 20 Nov 2024 firmly reiterated its approval of the proposed targeted amendment of the EU deforestation regulation, delaying its date of application by 12 months. 

As reported by the EU Council, it assumes that this is the soundest way forward to ensure legal assurance for all stakeholders. This postponement will permit third countries, member states, operators and traders to be fully equipped in their due diligence responsibilities, which is to ensure that specific commodities and products sold in the EU or exported from the EU are deforestation-free. This includes products produced from cattle, wood, cocoa, soy, palm oil, coffee, rubber, and some of their derived products.

The deforestation law has already been in force since 29 June 2023 and its conditions are to be applied from 30 December 2024. The EU Council agreed to the Commission’s proposal to delay the application date of the regulation by one year.

How will the amendment impact stakeholders and supply chains?

This measure would give lawful certainty, predictability and adequate time for a smooth and effective implementation of the regulations, including fully establishing due diligence systems covering all relevant commodities and products. These due diligence systems include determining deforestation risks in supply chains as well as observing and reporting measures to prove adherence to EU rules.

The targeted amendment will not affect the substance of the already existing rules, which is to minimise the EU’s contribution to deforestation and forest degradation worldwide, by only allowing placing on the EU market or exporting from the EU, deforestation-free products. Deforestation-free products are products that have been produced on land not subject to deforestation or forest degradation after 31 December 2020.

What are the main drivers of global deforestation addressed by the EU?

In the next steps, the EU Council will now report to the European Parliament on this position to start negotiations. As reported by EU sources, the primary driver of global deforestation and forest degradation is the growth of agricultural land, which is connected to the production of the commodities included in the scope of the regulation. As the EU is a significant consumer of such commodities, it can reduce its contribution to global deforestation and forest degradation by making sure these products and related supply chains are ‘deforestation-free’.