EUROPE has this week confirmed that it will be delaying its ban on the imports of goods linked to deforestation after concerns were raised about a lack of clarity by both exporters and importers.

With Australian beef on the list of “high risk” commodities, the EU was originally set to bring in the import rules at the end of this year. It is now planning to the bring the laws in at the end of next year for large importers and traders and the middle of 2026 for small enterprises.

Beef Central understands the majority of Australian beef and sheepmeat is imported by companies that fit into large enterprise category.

Europe has been under pressure for some time to delay the impending legislation, with the Federal Labor Government writing to the EU and asking it to delay due a lack of clarity and potential impacts on the beef industry. Pressure has also been on from within the EU, with importers of products like soy raising concerns about its impact on cost of production.

In a press release this week, the European Council said the EU still planned to bring in the legislation.

“The targeted amendment will not affect the substance of the already existing rules, which is to minimise the EU’s contribution to deforestation and forest degradation worldwide, by only allowing placing on the EU market, or exporting from the EU, deforestation-free products,” the press release said.

“Deforestation-free products are products that have been produced on land not subject to deforestation or forest degradation after 31 December 2020.

“The Council will now inform the European Parliament of its position in view of the Parliament taking a decision on its position. The aim is to have the regulation formally adopted by both co-legislators and published in the Official Journal of the EU so that it can enter into force by the end of the year.”

Laws targeting the expansion of agricultural land

Definitions of deforestation have also been a source of debate, with Australian producers having defend routine land management practices.

In the EU release, it said its main concern is about changing land uses from forest to agricultural land.

“The main driver of global deforestation and forest degradation is the expansion of agricultural land, which is linked to the production of the commodities included in the scope of the regulation,” it said.

“As the EU is a major consumer of such commodities, it can reduce its contribution to global deforestation and forest degradation by making sure these products and related supply chains are ‘deforestation-free’.”

• Beef Central will have more deforestation definitions in the coming days