On November 14, the European Parliament voted the Commission’s proposal to delay the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)1 by 12 months, originally set for full application on December 30, 2024. The regulation, which mandates that companies verify their products are deforestation-free and compliant with national laws, faced significant amendments proposed by the European People’s Party (EPP), which critics argue could undermine the regulation’s effectiveness.
Key Amendments and their implications
One of the most contentious changes is the introduction of a “no-risk” country category. This amendment would exempt certain countries from compliance checks, potentially allowing products linked to deforestation to enter the EU market without scrutiny. Environmental organisations, including Greenpeace (2) and WWF (3), have expressed serious concerns that this could weaken forest protection efforts and contribute to further degradation. It creates a great incentive for circumvention whereby products from higher risk countries transit through a “no-risk” country before being imported to Europe and thereby completely undermine the usefulness of the EUDR.
During a post-vote press conference (4), Christine Schneider, the Member of the European Parliament (MEP) who tabled the amendments on behalf of the EPP Group, hinted at the fact that this loophole was specially crafted to help EU Member States. As this discriminates against tropical forested countries, this will undoubtedly be an issue at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which will severely damage the EU’s international credibility and fuel tensions with trading partners.(5)
Another major issue is the proposed shift in how countries are assessed for deforestation risk. The new criteria focus on “forest area development” rather than the actual state of forests, which means that countries could potentially escape scrutiny even if they engage in practices harmful to primary forests. If primary forests – which are critical for storing carbon and protecting biodiversity – are cut and replaced by monoculture tree farms, the EUDR would not apply.(6)
The EPP’s push for changes reflects a shift in political alliances, with support from right-wing groups, seen as prioritizing economic interests over environmental safeguards. “The EUDR has been held hostage by conservative forces determined to show that they now wield the power in Parliament: a right-wing alliance prepared to sacrifice forests for political gain.” said Julia Christian, campaigner at Fern.
Business and Political Reactions
The amendments have drawn ire from both businesses and environmental advocates. Many companies that have invested heavily in compliance with the original EUDR are now facing uncertainty due to these changes. Stakeholders warn that altering key parts of the law could disrupt investments and create an uneven playing field in the market.
Next Steps
Lawmakers have until the middle of December to find common ground, as the regulation is scheduled to come into force at the end of December 2024. To date, the Council made clear that it would approve the position of the EP only if the EP had adopted the Commission’s proposal without any amendments7. As the situation evolves, all eyes are also on the European Commission. It has the option to withdraw its proposal for delaying the EUDR’s implementation to uphold the regulation’s original timeline and standards if it deems that the Parliament’s amendments go too far.
Environmental groups are urging immediate action to uphold the original timeline for the regulation, emphasizing that any delay would further jeopardize global forest conservation efforts. At present, the date of application of the EUDR remains 30 September 2024.
While the EUDR was initially celebrated as a landmark environmental law aimed at combating deforestation, recent political maneuvers threaten to dilute its impact significantly. The outcome of this legislative battle will have profound implications not only for forests but also for global efforts to combat climate change and protect biodiversity.
Read more on the EUDR
- Slowing down forest protection? Commission considers delaying EUDR
- The European Union wants to combat imported deforestation
1. (EU) 2023/1115 2. Greenpeace, Vote sur l’EUDR : Greenpeace s’indigne face au report et au détricotage de la législation forestière de l’UE, November 14, 2024. 3. WWF, EPP with support of far right dismantles EU Deforestation Regulation in an attack on forests and climate, November 14, 2024.
4.EPP Group, LIVE: Press conference – Deforestation Law: Make it fit for purpose, https://www.youtube.com/live/pO6vCUJ50Hg 5 and 6. FERN press release, EU’s groundbreaking deforestation law sabotaged by the European Parliament, November 14, 2024 7. https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-14579-2024-INIT/en/pdf
