EU Deforestation Regulation Faces Delay Amid Concerns from Forest Industries

The implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) has been postponed by a year following concerns raised by major European forest industries. The regulation, aimed at preventing deforestation linked to products like timber, beef, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, and soy, requires companies to prove their supply chains are deforestation-free since 2020. The delay comes as companies expressed worries about the legal implications and market disruptions, particularly for smaller rural businesses. Originally set to take effect on December 30, 2024, the postponement means that deforestation occurring before December 31, 2020, will not be subject to the regulation. Data from Global Forest Watch indicates that Brazil, India, Indonesia, and Tanzania are currently experiencing the highest rates of deforestation. The EUDR aims to promote better forest protection in these regions, as well as in Argentina and West African cocoa-producing nations like Ghana and Ivory Coast.