The commodities covered by the new legislation are livestock, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soybeans and timber, including all products directly related to them. The law will enter into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal of the EU.
The European Parliament reached an agreement with European Union (EU) governments on Tuesday a new law on deforestation-free products. According to the agreed text companies will be required to verify and issue a “due diligence” statement, meaning that the traded goods have not led to deforestation and forest degradation anywhere in the world after December 31, 2020.
Companies inside and outside the European Union will not be able to sell their products in the EU without this type of declaration. In addition, they will have to verify compliance with the relevant laws of the country of production, including those related to human rights and respect for affected indigenous peoples.
In this way, European consumers have the certainty that the products they buy do not contribute to the destruction of forests. It will also contribute to the fight against climate change and the loss of biodiversity worldwide.
The products to which the new legislation applies are livestock, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, soybeans and timber, including products containing, fueled or manufactured using these raw materials, as well as leather, chocolate and furniture.
The European Parliament and the Council will have to formally approve the agreement and the new law will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU, although some articles become applicable 18 months later.
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Source: EITB
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
