The UK Government announced plans to introduce new regulations requiring businesses to ensure that their supply chains are not contributing to illegal deforestation, including new mandatory due diligence requirements, with a consultation on the new rules to be launched this year.
The government said that its approach will propose covering the same core commodities and underlying information requirements to be used in the EU’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), in order to help businesses avoid administrative duplication and to enable consistent data and traceability standards for companies.
According to the government, the plans for the new rules come as the UK’s consumption of goods linked to the production of internationally traded commodities is associated with approximately 29,000 hectares of deforestation worldwide annually, and 9.4 million tonnes of related carbon emissions, while businesses such as supermarkets have been calling for stronger regulation to help tackle deforestation in product supply chains.
Under the new proposals, companies that trade in commodities sourced from rainforests such as soy, palm oil, cocoa and rubber will need to check that their supply chains are not contributing to illegal deforestation.
The government said that it will consult businesses, civil society and international partners later this year on the details of the proposed deforestation policy, including consulting on mandatory due diligence requirements for businesses. The proposed requirements would be introduced using powers including the UK Environment Act alongside legislation strengthening the UK Timber Regulation. The statement added that the new measures will help businesses better identify and reduce the risk that their imported products are linked to illegal deforestation and land clearing.
Ultimately, the government said that its ambition is to transition to a deforestation-free standard which will require relevant products to be produced free from any deforestation.
UK Nature Minister Mary Creagh said:
“Tackling global deforestation is one of the most effective ways we can address climate change and protect some of the world’s most unique and precious wildlife.”
