EU Proposes Delay on Deforestation Law Amid Global Backlash

The European Commission has proposed delaying its landmark deforestation law by a year due to concerns raised by industries and governments globally. The law aims to ban imports of deforestation-linked commodities but faced criticism for being protectionist and complex to implement across global supply chains.

The European Commission announced on Wednesday a proposed one-year delay of its critical law banning the import of commodities linked to deforestation, following widespread appeals from global industries and governments.

While lauded as a milestone in combating climate change, the law has been criticized by nations from Brazil to Malaysia for being protectionist and potentially excluding small-scale farmers from the EU market. Industry experts also warned that the law could disrupt supply chains and inflate prices within the EU.

In March, 20 of the EU's 27 member states requested Brussels to re-evaluate and potentially suspend the law, citing its potential negative impact on local farmers. The Commission stated that the proposed delay and additional guidance documents are intended to ensure the EUDR's successful implementation without undermining its objectives. The EU deforestation regulation, which was set to be enacted on Dec. 30, will require comprehensive tracing of supply chains to prevent deforestation-linked imports.

(With inputs from agencies.)