The European Deforestation Regulation must, with exception to a 12-month implementation delay approved last week, be enforced as planned and to the letter, the European Council has urged following a Coreper meeting.
“The targeted amendment will not affect the substance of the already existing rules, which is to minimise the EU’s contribution to deforestation and forest degradation worldwide, by only allowing placing on the EU market, or exporting from the EU, deforestation-free products,” it said in a statement.
Member states would not budge on a change to the regulation that could not only derail EUDR’s purpose, but weaken the whole regulation, campaign groups have said.
Several EUDR amendments
Following the European Commission’s proposal to delay the EDUR in October, the result of largescale campaigns from worried industry bodies, political group the European People’s Party put forward several EUDR amendments.
The ‘no risk’ category is for countries where deforestation risk is considered small or non-existent, such as those with stable or growing forests. It is unclear which countries qualify for the status, but was approved by the European Parliament in the same vote in which the delay was passed.
However, the European Council has called for the regulation to go through as planned, with no changes other than a delay.
“Last week the EPP proposed and passed a set of amendments that would create a new country benchmarking,” Greenpeace spokesperson Paul Musiol, told FoodNavigator.
“They wanted to add a no-risk category to exempt all obligations under the regulation that would be rarely subjected to checks and companies wouldn’t have any due-diligence obligations. But the Council has said no.”
Next steps on EUDR no risk
Next, the European Commission will inform the European Parliament of its position and begin negotiations. It’s likely the EU Parliament, Council and Commission will go to trial tomorrow (21 November) to debate, a source close to Brussels told FoodNavigator.
“The EPP’s politically motivated amendments have dented the EU’s international credibility, spread uncertainty among businesses, and undermined the fight against deforestation,” said Julia Christian, campaigner at forests and rights NGO, Fern.
Today, Member States sent a strong message to the European Parliament: attempts to weaken the EUDR are unacceptable, WWF European Policy Office forest manager, Anke Schulmeister-Oldenhove said.
“Delaying its application by even one year already risks exacerbating global deforestation. Any additional postponement and weakening would lead to further destruction, with devastating consequences for forests, our climate and biodiversity.”