Deforestation in Tanah Merah, Indonesia in January 2020
"The EUDR has suffered a massive blow today. The EPP’s introduction of a new loophole for products from ‘no-risk’ countries is a wolf in sheep’s clothing."- Fyfe Strachan, Earthsight Policy and Communications Lead
14 November 2024
Today the EU Parliament approved a package of amendments to weaken the landmark EU Deforestation-Free Products Regulation (EUDR), which is intended to prevent European consumption from driving deforestation and associated illegalities across the world.
The amendments, proposed by the conservative European People’s Party (EPP), carve out exemptions from the law for products from countries designated ‘no-risk.’ The law’s implementation will also be delayed by 12 months.
Earthsight’s Policy lead Fyfe Strachan said: “The EUDR has suffered a massive blow today. The EPP’s introduction of a new loophole for products from ‘no-risk’ countries is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The EPP claims it just wants to cut red tape, but in reality this move undermines the integrity of the law and will make it dramatically harder to enforce.
These poorly drafted amendments will exempt products from ‘no-risk’ countries from many of the law’s requirements. The criteria for determining which countries are ‘no-risk’ are arbitrary and seem designed to pander to Europe’s agriculture and forestry lobbies. More than this, the amendments create a dangerous loophole that could open the floodgates for products produced in high-risk countries to be laundered through no-risk countries.
Just this week, new Earthsight research revealed connections between political donors to EPP member parties in Germany and Austria and illegal deforestation. The EPP’s amendments are likely to benefit its political donors, but will harm the world’s forests.
It remains disappointing that the EU has decided to push back the start of the law by one year. The deforestation impacts of this delay would be equivalent to the emissions of 18 million cars.
The Commission must act swiftly and withdraw its initial proposal. The amendments cannot be allowed to stand. If they do, Europe's standing in global efforts to combat deforestation will be in tatters.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
- The EUDR bans the import or trade within Europe of palm oil, beef, leather, cocoa, coffee, soy, rubber and timber produced illegally or on land deforested since 2020.
- Before the amendments to the EUDR can take effect, they will need to be agreed by the European Council, which comprises representatives of the 27 member states, and European Commission.
- Earlier this week, Earthsight exposed how Germany’s CDU and Austria’s ÖVP, both members of the EPP, have received political donations from companies linked to illegal deforestation. The media release is here and full analysis is here.
- Earthsight is a London-based non-profit committed to exposing environmental and social crime and their links to global consumption.
Contacts:
Earthsight Deputy Director Rubens Carvalho
Earthsight Policy and Communications Lead Fyfe Strachan
