The European Parliament voted on Thursday to delay the implementation of the EU’s key anti-deforestation law by one year, while also relaxing certain requirements. Originally celebrated as a significant step toward environmental protection and climate action, the decision to delay and amend the law has sparked sharp criticism from environmental organizations.
The delay follows lobbying from key trading partners, including Brazil and the United States, as well as EU member states like Germany. In addition to postponing the start date, right-wing and far-right lawmakers introduced new amendments that ease restrictions for some countries. This step effectively resets the legislative process, as the revised law will now require further discussions between the European Commission and EU member states, creating additional uncertainty.
The law was designed to restrict imports of products linked to deforestation, such as coffee, cocoa, soy, timber, palm oil, cattle, and rubber, unless they were produced on land free from deforestation after December 2020. Under the original rules, countries identified as high-risk would have nine percent of exports checked for compliance, with lower rates for low-risk countries.
One controversial amendment introduced a “no-risk” category that would reduce scrutiny on products from EU nations like Germany, a move environmentalists see as unfair. Julia Christian, a campaigner with environmental group Fern, criticized the amendment, arguing it grants “EU forested countries a free pass” while demanding stricter standards from non-EU countries.
Environmental groups have expressed disappointment, warning that the softened stance sends a contradictory message, urging other countries to protect their forests while exempting the EU from its own stringent standards. This development adds to ongoing concerns about the EU’s commitment to combating global deforestation and climate change.