New rules for ‘zero deforestation’ products questioned by agriculture ministers

The EU Member states do not agree on the details of a proposal designed to prevent imports into Europe linked with deforestation. France, which placed the file as a top priority during its rotating EU presidency, keeps trying to push it forward.

The European Commission made a draft proposal on a deforestation law, which will for the first time oblige companies selling certain products to prove that they do not come from deforested areas. The proposal was supported by several Member States, but some insisted that the regulation should go further (e.g. Germany and Austria). Whereas some states expressed reservations on the proposal, namely Slovenia, Croatia and Hungary.

Agriculture ministers stumped over details on deforestation-free imports