EU delays deforestation law enforcement

The European Union will postpone enforcing its anti-deforestation law by one year, citing readiness concerns, but the law's strict requirements remain unchanged.

Anne-Sophie Brändlin reports for Deutsche Welle.

In short:

• The EU Deforestation Regulation, designed to ensure supply chains do not contribute to global deforestation, now takes effect at the end of 2025.
• The delay stems from incomplete digital tools and inadequate preparation among some EU nations, potentially resulting in significant forest loss during the postponement.
• Many businesses and cocoa-producing countries like Ghana and Ivory Coast have already adapted to comply, urging against further delays.

Key quote:

“ ... we cannot afford delays to much-needed environmental protection laws like the EU's anti-deforestation legislation.”

— Giulia Bondi, campaigner with international investigative nonprofit Global Witness

Why this matters:

Deforestation drives climate change and biodiversity loss. Delaying action could mean thousands of square kilometers of additional forest loss, undermining efforts to combat global environmental crises. Policymakers must balance preparation time with the urgent need for enforcement.

Related: Brazil urges EU to delay new deforestation law