Berlin complains that the control mechanisms and details for implementation are not yet properly arranged. Other EU countries, including Austria and several other agriculture ministers, are also pushing for a delay. The new regulations require precise documentation about the origin of various products, which is difficult for many small producers to achieve.
However, both European farmers and international trade partners such as Brazil and Indonesia fear obstacles to exports.
The EUDR law requires companies from January 1 to prove that their products such as soy, palm oil, coffee, and cocoa do not come from deforested rainforest areas. The clearing of rainforest is seen as one of the biggest causes of climate change and biodiversity loss.
This applies not only to exporting countries but also to importing companies. The new rules also apply to products made in the EU and exported to EU countries.
Criticism is also heard in Germany. The paper and print industry, which relies on synthetic wood, warns that the law will disproportionately affect them. This is because they must be able to prove that their wood was not produced from ‘deforested’ areas. Other forest-rich (and wood-producing) countries such as Sweden, Finland, and Austria also complain about this.
Minister Özdemir said at a press conference on Friday, following the semi-annual meeting with the agriculture ministers of the 16 German states, ‘that Germany does not have a deforestation problem.’ He pointed out that the EU – with himself – has recently been pushing for less bureaucracy and fewer regulations for farmers. That should also apply to the forest-processing industry.
The European Commission already indicated earlier this month that it intends to stick to the current timeline. However, Brussels is working on support to help countries and companies with the processing of the new rules. The debate over a possible delay continues to flare up, especially now that several large economies within the EU have expressed concerns about the practical implementation of the new regulations.