The UK government announced on Tuesday (23), during London Climate Action Week, a new package of measures to prevent the entry into the country of agricultural products associated with illegal deforestation. The proposal foresees that British companies that trade commodities originating from tropical forests, such as soy, palm oil, cocoa and rubber, will adopt mandatory verification and traceability mechanisms for their supply chains. According to the British government, the objective is to ensure that the products traded in the country are not linked to the illegal conversion of forest areas, in addition to increasing transparency for consumers and businesses. “This measure will protect the habitats of some of the world’s most precious and threatened species, while giving British consumers confidence that the products in their shopping carts are not contributing to illegal deforestation,” the government said in a statement. The new requirements follow a similar line to European Regulation for Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR), Approved by the European Union, which establishes rigorous due diligence and traceability criteria for agricultural commodities considered to pose an environmental risk. According to the British proposal, companies will have to demonstrate that imported products are not associated with illegal deforestation, adopting risk assessment and mitigation procedures in their supply chains. The government has announced that it will hold a public consultation process this year involving companies, civil society organizations, and international partners to define the details of the policy. Among the topics to be discussed are the implementation of mandatory due diligence requirements, the strengthening of mechanisms provided for in the UK Environment Act, and possible updates to British regulations for forest products and timber.
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.