Environmentalists are criticizing a joint complaint that 17 developing countries registered this month with the European Union (EU) concerning its new measure to prohibit commodity imports whose production contributed to deforestation. The EU’s Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products formally took effect on June 29. The measure reflects EU concern about deforestation due to expansion of agricultural operations producing exports including soy, beef, palm oil, timber, cocoa, coffee, and rubber. It states any producer or trader who sends these commodities to the EU market has to prove that the products do not originate from land cleared or degraded since Dec. 31, 2020. Although the measure gives producers and traders 18 months to abide by the new rules, small producers will enjoy a longer adaptation period. A key goal of the measure is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss by prompting producers to make more efficient use of existing agricultural... [Log in to read more]