EU delays and weakens anti-deforestation law, adding ‘no-risk’ loophole
The European Parliament approved a move to postpone a watered-down version of its anti-deforestation law, with implementation pushed back 12 months to the end of 2025.
The Nov. 14 vote to delay the European Union Deforestation Regulation, or the EUDR, by a year was approved with a clear majority of 58%, with 371 votes in favor, 240 against and 30 abstentions. It drew mass support from the center-right European People’s Party (EPP) and the far right.
Earlier in the day, an amendment introducing a “no-risk” category into the law was also approved, allowing the EU to decide in which countries the law will be enforced.
The vague proposed criteria in the approved law suggest labeling countries as “no-risk” if they show a net increase in forest cover, even if the forest increase comes from expa...