EU states push to delay deforestation law again

European Union member states are seeking to postpone the implementation of the bloc’s anti-deforestation law by another year, informed an EU negotiating draft dated November 10. The draft document now suggests deferring the law’s application to December 30, 2026 for larger firms, and June 30, 2027 for smaller ones. The European Commission last month proposed adjustments to ease compliance for smallholders and businesses, but stopped short of delaying the landmark policy. For many member states, “the Commission’s proposal alone was not enough,” the draft said. The ban on imports of cocoa, palm oil and other commodities linked to forest destruction is a key plank of the EU’s green agenda. This faces pushback from some industries and countries that say the measures are costly and logistically challenging. Initially set to take effect from end-2024, the policy has already been delayed by a year but tensions persist, including complaints from trading partners such as Brazil and the US. ...