EU studies banning import of food and wood from deforested areas

The European Commission launched on Wednesday a proposal to ban 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 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. What “deforestation free”.

According to the proposal of the EUTwo criteria must be met: that the basic products are produced in accordance with the laws of the country of origin; and that they do not come from deforested or degraded lands since the beginning of 2021.

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 adopted and come into force.

The rules could affect countries like Brazil, where European concern over rampant deforestation in the Amazon region by ranchers is delaying the adoption of the EU-Mercosur trade deal.

The environmental protection group WWF argues that the huge EU market is responsible for 16% of global deforestation linked to international trade.

For this reason, WWF and other NGOs welcomed the plan of the EU as a first step, but they point out that it doesn’t go far enough.

Greenpeace, for example, has already criticized that it does not address deforestation of other basic products such as rubber and corn, or of raising pigs and poultry.

Other proposals presented refer to waste management and the improvement of soil health.

With regard to waste, the European Comission proposes the adoption of principles of “circular economy“In relation to the way in which it sends abroad millions of tons of metals, cardboard, plastic, textiles, among other waste.

Exports of waste to non-EU countries OECD they would be restricted, and only allowed if those destinations are in agreement and can be managed sustainably.

Currently, the two main destinations for waste from the EU in that category are Turkey and India.