The European Commission is proposing to postpone until the end of 2025 the entry into force of its law against deforestation, the application of which was initially planned for the very end of the year. While it aims to ban the import into the EU of a whole series of raw materials from deforested lands, this legislation has attracted the wrath of large agribusiness companies, but also of many States, including within the 27.
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European law against deforestation, postponed to 2025? In any case, this is what the European Commission proposed this Wednesday, October 2, despite protests from environmentalists. This law, which was to come into force at the end of the year, should make it possible to stop the importation into the EU of raw materials (cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soya, etc.) from deforested lands by proving , in particular thanks to geolocation, that they do not come from plots razed after December 2020.
This proposal from Brussels comes after much pressure from companies but also from countries like Brazilthe United States, Germany or even certain producing countries of the International Cocoa Organization.
“ Punitive instrument “, ” trade barrier “, initiative ” discriminatory »
While the EU is in the midst of negotiations to reach a free trade agreement with the South American countries affiliated to the MercosurBerlin, which is a fervent supporter, considers for example this European law as an obstacle to its conclusion. Recriminations are also numerous in the United States and Asia, where it is sometimes described as “ punitive instrument ”, sometimes “ trade barrier “, sometimes initiative “ discriminatory », so much so that Malaysia and Indonesia pleaded for its postponement last year.
Africa is not left out. On the continent, cocoa producing countries are asking the EU for a delay, pointing out the complexity of the reforms to be put in place to comply with its new rules. The fact remains that some States are showing good will. This is the case of Ghana which has initiated a pilot cocoa traceability program, or even Côte d’Ivoire which has implemented a certain number of important measures in the sector – mapping of plantations, identity cards of planters or even tracing software.
“ All the initiatives put in place to regain forest cover are positive »
On the side of environmental organizations, on the other hand, we are worried about a bad signal. While the strengthening of the far right in the European Parliament during the European elections in June raises fears of a complete unraveling of measures in favor of the environment, the French environmentalist MEP Marie Toussaint is worried about the fact that this regulation either “ attacked from all sides » while there is “ red alert on deforestation “. However, the benefits of forests are multiple: to fight against global warming, but also to preserve biodiversity.
“ All the initiatives put in place to ensure that forest cover is regained are positive, both for biodiversity and for communities. », agrees Bakary Traoré, of the Ivorian NGO IDEF. Even if he nevertheless recognizes that the delay taken by the EU in disclosing the technical details of its legislation has not made the task easier for those they target. “ If this one-year postponement allows everyone to comply with the text calmly and ensure that we move forward, it can calm the situation. The worry is that this delay will lead to a re-discussion of its content “,he is alarmed. A fear shared by the French NGO Canopée which believes that this would send the wrong signal to businesses.
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