InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – The European Union has agreed to extend the deadline for the implementation of its deforestation regulation by 12 months, giving stakeholders more time to prepare due diligence measures to ensure that the commodities sold or exported are free from deforestation. 

The decision by the EU Council, made today, extends the preparation period for the regulation, which was initially set to take effect on June 29, 2023. Under the new amendment, the regulation will now come into force on December 30, 2024, with a longer implementation window for large operators and traders until December 30, 2025. Meanwhile, micro and small enterprises will have until June 30, 2026, to comply with the new rules. 

According to an official statement from the European Parliament on Friday, November 15, 2024, this extension aims to help third countries, EU member states, and operators and traders within the EU to prepare comprehensive due diligence systems. These systems will ensure that key commodities, including cattle, timber, cocoa, soybeans, palm oil, coffee, and rubber, are free from deforestation. The system involves risk assessments, monitoring, and reporting to assist businesses in complying with the EU’s deforestation standards. 

The European Parliament emphasized that this time extension does not change the regulation’s primary goal of reducing the EU’s contribution to global deforestation. The commodities allowed to be traded or exported from the EU must be produced on land that has not experienced deforestation since December 31, 2020. 

This regulation is designed to address a global issue, where agricultural expansion is a key driver of deforestation, particularly to meet the demand for commodities such as coffee, palm oil, and soy. As a major consumer of these products, the EU is committed to ensuring that they do not harm global forest ecosystems. 

Once approved by the European Parliament, the regulation will be sent back to the committee for further negotiations. Final approval from the EU Council and the Parliament is needed before the amendments are published in the Official Journal of the EU. 

With these amendments, the EU hopes the deforestation-free regulation will be implemented smoothly, providing certainty for businesses while reinforcing global commitments to protect forests and reduce deforestation. (T2)