{"id":41673,"date":"2022-02-17T14:41:43","date_gmt":"2022-02-17T13:41:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rplt.it\/update-the-eu-proposes-a-regulation-to-curb-deforestation-how-would-it-impact-companies-2\/"},"modified":"2024-04-17T13:56:42","modified_gmt":"2024-04-17T11:56:42","slug":"update-the-eu-proposes-a-regulation-to-curb-deforestation-how-would-it-impact-companies-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rplt.it\/en\/update-the-eu-proposes-a-regulation-to-curb-deforestation-how-would-it-impact-companies-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Update | The EU proposes a Regulation to curb deforestation: how would it impact companies?"},"content":{"rendered":"

On 17 November 2021, the European Commission presented a proposal for a new Regulation to contain EU-led deforestation and forest degradation<\/a>. The proposal sits in the context of the Green Deal<\/a>, and is part of a larger plan for the protection of forests worldwide, presented in 2019<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Deforestation and the EU<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The data published by the European Union<\/a> show that forests account for 30% of the world\u2019s surface and host roughly 80% of terrestrial biodiversity. In addition to the important function of mitigating climate crisis through the capturing of CO2, forests also play a social function. More than 1.6 billion people base their subsistence \u2013 and, oftentimes, their cultural integrity \u2013 on forests.<\/p>\n

Given this premise, the results of a recent study from the WWF<\/a> are particularly significant. In 2017, the EU was responsible for 16% of deforestation globally, with a total impact affecting 230.000 acres of land and 116 million tons of CO2. These findings are even more relevant if analyzed in comparison with the impact of China (24%), India (9%), USA (7%) and Japan (5%).<\/p>\n

The Regulation proposal<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Scope and obligations<\/u><\/p>\n

In order to counter this phenomenon, the proposed Regulation presented last November by the European Commission imposes a series of obligations and limitations to the import and export in the EU market of commodities linked to deforestation. They include soy, beef, palm oil, coffee, cocoa and wood. The products deriving from these commodities, such as leather and chocolate (and other products listed in an annex) are also included.<\/p>\n

The Regulation proposal applies to all operators, regardless of their size, and sets an obligation to ascertain that the said commodities and products:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Do not derive from deforestation, understood as \u201cthe conversion of forest to agricultural use, whether human-induced or not\u201d (Art. 2).<\/li>\n
  2. Are produced respecting the laws in force in the country of production.<\/li>\n
  3. Are accompanied by a due diligence declaration.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The due diligence declaration must address the following aspects (Art. 8)<\/p>\n