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Plans were revealed last month by the European Commission for mandatory due diligence for products sold on the EU market to make sure they are not linked to deforestation or forest degradation.
Such legislation would place more focus on the production of beef, soy, palm oil, wood, cocoa and coffee products and derived products placed on the EU market. Vice-President Timmermans explained the background for this new proposal saying “Our deforestation regulation answers citizens' call to minimise the European contribution to deforestation and to promote sustainable consumption. Between 1990 and last year, we have lost 420 million hectares of forest – that is an area larger than the European Union. EU demand for commodities like palm oil, soy, wood, beef, cocoa, and coffee are strong drivers of deforestation. More and more citizens want us to put an end to this. Our proposal therefore creates a strong due diligence system. It ensures that we only import these products if we can ascertain that they are deforestation-free and produced legally.”