BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (May 16, 2023) – The EU deforestation regulation (EUDR) has been formally adopted by the Council of the European Union representing the bloc’s 27 member states. The new law aims to prevent products and commodities linked to deforestation and forest degradation from being placed onto the EU market, marking a significant milestone in global efforts to protect forests. 

Once the law enters into force, large and medium-sized companies will have 18 months to implement the new rules. It will be mandatory for companies to conduct due diligence on commodities covered by the legislation: cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soya, timber and rubber as well as derived products such as beef, furniture or chocolate. 

Following is a statement from Stientje van Veldhoven, Vice President and Regional Director for Europe, World Resources Institute:  

“The EU regulation could be a major boon to global efforts to stop deforestation and fight climate change — yet its success will hinge on whether the EU can meaningfully partner with the countries, companies and smallholder farmers who are producing the goods. 

“Effectively implemented, the law could significantly reduce greenhouse emissions that result from the clearing tropical forests for food and other commodities. And it could help protect critical biodiversity and water resources in tropical rainforests. The law also sends an important signal to markets around the world: getting the food and commodities we need does not require destroying the world’s forests — and continuing to do so will hurt people and the climate. 

“Yet for the regulation to truly stop deforestation, the EU and its Member States must partner with commodity-producing countries to ensure they are able to comply, without harming their economies or people’s livelihoods. This will require incentives for vulnerable groups like smallholder farmers to shift toward deforestation-free practices, ensuring they do not get left behind in this transition.  

“More sustainable consumption is possible — but only if countries consuming the sustainable goods support the countries, companies, and especially people on the ground who are producing them. And while the EU regulation is a critical step, we also need other major economies to follow with similar measures, while ensuring that equity is front and center.”