The 27 European Union countries on Tuesday formally adopted new rules that should help the bloc reduce its contribution to global deforestation by regulating the trade in a series of products driving the decrease in forested areas across the world.
Under the legislation, companies trading palm oil, cattle, wood, coffee, cocoa, rubber and soy will need to verify that the goods they sell in the EU haven’t led to deforestation and forest degradation anywhere in the world since 2021.
The regulation also covers derived products such as chocolate or printed paper.
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The law will force companies to show that goods they import comply with rules in the country of origin, including on human rights and the protection of Indigenous people.
Van Veldhoven added that the EU should now cooperate with producing countries to make sure they can adapt to the new legislation without hurting their economies and people’s livelihoods.