· 2 min read
illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Wall Street Journal or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: The EU has proposed delaying its deforestation law, requiring importers to prove their commodities are deforestation-free, until late 2025
• While this extension could ease implementation for companies, smaller farmers face significant compliance challenges and may lose access to the EU market
🔭 The context: The regulation targets commodities like coffee, cocoa, soy, and cattle, placing stringent traceability demands on producers to protect ecosystems like the Amazon
• Larger corporations, including Nestlé and Ferrero, support the delay to finalize compliance measures, while environmental groups criticize the postponement as incentivizing continued deforestation
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: EU consumption is a major driver of global deforestation, which threatens biodiversity and accelerates climate change
• An immediate implementation of this law could reduce deforestation pressures, but the delay risks prolonging environmental damage in critical regions
⏭️ What's next: The European Parliament will soon decide on the delay; if passed, the law would take effect in December 2025 for large companies and mid-2026 for smaller entities
• Brazil and other major suppliers have voiced concerns, seeing the regulation as a trade barrier affecting significant portions of their exports
💬 One quote: "How much more forest must we lose before policymakers grasp the urgency of immediate action?” asked WWF’s senior forest policy officer, Anke Schulmeister-Oldenhove
📈 One stat: The cost of EU-compliant soybean meal is estimated to be 5-10% higher than standard market prices, per the animal feed industry group Fefac
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