The EU proposes a ban on the importation of food and wood from deforested areas

AFP. The European Commission on Wednesday launched a proposal for legislation to prohibit the import of wood and food grown in deforested areas, in an initiative that NGOs would like to see expanded to other sectors. The plan, which the EU wants to make into binding rules for the nations of the bloc, would require companies interested in exporting to demonstrate that products such as soybeans, beef, palm oil, cocoa and coffee, as well as imports of wood, are certified. as "free from deforestation." Presenting the proposals, the European Commissioner for the Environment, Virginijus Sinkevicius, said that the plan aims not only to attack "illegal deforestation, but also the removal of vegetation to expand agricultural land." The package will also apply to derivatives, such as products based on leather or furniture. Imports from higher risk countries would be subject to stricter controls. The European Commission has not yet released a forecast of when the package of proposals will be ...