Coffee, wood, soy – many important goods are affected by an EU regulation on deforestation-free supply chains. However, the environmental protection law raises concerns with Agriculture Minister Özdemir.
In view of the feared bureaucratic confusion, Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir has renewed his call to postpone the planned EU regulation on the protection of forests. In its current form, the so-called EU deforestation regulation creates too much bureaucracy, said the Green politician in Brussels.
The evidence on this is clear and it is “absurd” that the Commission could possibly drive this important issue into the ground. Despite regular criticism, there have been no improvements from the Commission so far. The implementation of the regulation must be postponed by six months in order to find practical solutions.
Law on the Protection of Forests
According to the regulation, products such as coffee, wood, soy, cocoa and palm oil may only be sold in the EU if no forests have been cleared for them after 2020. This is also intended to significantly reduce the deforestation of the rainforest, for example in the South American Amazon region.
Specifically, companies will in future have to provide a due diligence declaration that no forest was cleared or damaged for their product after December 31, 2020. Anyone who does not comply with the regulations must expect heavy fines.
The Green minister also said that Germany must be classified as a country with a low risk of deforestation. “We are working hard to ensure that all conditions are in place for the smooth implementation of the law,” said a spokesman for the EU Commission.
Source: Stern
