Transport Online – Brussels bans importing products that contribute to deforestation
BRUSSELS – The import of products that contribute to deforestation will be banned in the European Union. Negotiators from the European Parliament and the summary have reached an agreement on this. This includes products such as cocoa, coffee, soy, palm oil, wood, beef and rubber, but also derived products such as leather, chocolate, furniture, paper and charcoal, the European Commission said in a statement.
“The new law will ensure that a range of organic goods placed on the market will no longer contribute to deforestation and forest degradation in the EU and elders around the world,” the commission said. “When the new rules come into force, all companies involved will have to apply strict due diligence requirements when they place products on the EU market.”
The list of prohibited products is valid as a “deforestation driver” if they are from deforested land after December 2020. Importers must ensure that their products are free from deforestation and must provide “precise detailed information about the agricultural land” where the raw materials come from.
The bill dates from November last year. The full parliament and the EU member states still need to formally approve the regulation before it can enter into force. Traders will have 18 months to implement the rules.